(a) Civil Actions.—(1) Civil actions to enforce this chapter.—At the request of the Secretary of Transportation, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to enforce this chapter, including section 60112, or a regulation prescribed or order issued under this chapter. The court may award appropriate relief, including a temporary or permanent injunction, punitive damages, and assessment of civil penalties, considering the same factors as prescribed for the Secretary in an administrative case under section 60122. The maximum amount of civil penalties for administrative enforcement actions under section 60122 shall not apply to enforcement actions under this section.
(2) Civil actions to require compliance with subpoenas or allow for inspections.—At the request of the Secretary, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in a district court of the United States to require a person to comply immediately with a subpena or to allow an officer, employee, or agent authorized by the Secretary to enter the premises, and inspect the records and property, of the person to decide whether the person is complying with this chapter. The action may be brought in the judicial district in which the defendant resides, is found, or does business. The court may punish a failure to obey the order as a contempt of court.
(b) Jury Trial Demand.—In a trial for criminal contempt for violating an injunction issued under this section, the violation of which is also a violation of this chapter, the defendant may demand a jury trial. The defendant shall be tried as provided in rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (18 App. U.S.C.).
(c) Effect on Tort Liability.—This chapter does not affect the tort liability of any person.
Structure US Code
§ 60102. Purpose and general authority
§ 60103. Standards for liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities
§ 60104. Requirements and limitations
§ 60105. State pipeline safety program certifications
§ 60106. State pipeline safety agreements
§ 60107. State pipeline safety grants
§ 60108. Inspection and maintenance
§ 60109. High-density population areas and environmentally sensitive areas
§ 60111. Financial responsibility for liquefied natural gas facilities
§ 60112. Pipeline facilities hazardous to life and property
§ 60113. Customer-owned natural gas service lines
§ 60114. One-call notification systems
§ 60115. Technical safety standards committees
§ 60116. Public education programs
§ 60118. Compliance and waivers
§ 60121. Actions by private persons
§ 60125. Authorization of appropriations
§ 60127. Population encroachment and rights-of-way
§ 60128. Dumping within pipeline rights-of-way
§ 60129. Protection of employees providing pipeline safety information
§ 60130. Pipeline safety information grants to communities
§ 60131. Verification of pipeline qualification programs
§ 60132. National pipeline mapping system
§ 60133. Coordination of environmental reviews
§ 60134. State damage prevention programs
§ 60135. Enforcement transparency
§ 60136. Petroleum product transportation capacity study
§ 60137. Pipeline control room management
§ 60139. Maximum allowable operating pressure
§ 60140. Cover over buried pipelines
§ 60141. Standards for underground natural gas storage facilities