As reported by the Missouri Independent, the federal government has taken over regulating Missouri’s 1.5 million miles of natural gas pipelines, citing the state’s failure to enforce adequate penalties for safety violations. Previously, Missouri’s fines for violations ranged from $20,000 to $200,000—far below the federal range of $272,000 to $2.7 million.
Federal officials had warned Missouri lawmakers for years that noncompliance could lead to a regulatory takeover. State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, has repeatedly introduced legislation to raise the fines, but political gridlock has stalled progress. His latest bill aims to restore Missouri’s oversight by aligning penalties with federal standards, though it remains tied up in broader utility reforms that have sparked legislative disputes.
Missouri’s Public Service Commission (PSC) conducts around 100 to 150 inspections annually, identifying leaks, corrosion, and other hazards. Kathleen McNelis, PSC’s pipeline safety manager, said the agency prioritizes fixing violations over issuing fines, which is why no penalties were imposed despite finding 74 violations in 2023.
With PHMSA now in charge, Missouri has lost control over how penalties are handled, and any fines collected will go to the federal treasury instead of local schools. Federal regulators had given the state multiple chances to comply, but after years of inaction, they decided to step in and take over enforcement.
