Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. Settlement
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.