California Air Resources Board

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. Case Settles for $10,000

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NOV F072711-KMT-OXY) – In November 2014, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (Kinder Morgan) paid $10,000 in penalties for supplying gasoline in violation of California reformulated gasoline regulations.  In July 2011, Kinder Morgan supplied approximately 1,500 gallons of gasoline with oxygen content greater than 10% by volume from its Orange terminal.  California’s motor vehicle fuel regulation allows gasoline supplied within the state to contain ethanol in accordance with producer/importer specifications.  It appears that an equipment malfunction allowed the load to be over-oxygenated.  The violation was discovered then self-disclosed.  Audits by Enforcement staff verified the violation.  Kinder Morgan took steps to investigate, locate and remove the non-compliant fuel.  Kinder Morgan has installed a product quality module to monitor ethanol content and prevent future recurrences. This case was settled for $10,000 with  twenty-five percent of this amount ($2,500) going to the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District for School Bus Retrofit SEP.

Return to 2014 Case Settlements