HB 1582 Summary

• Amends Arkansas Code § 23-15-205(a) to clarify that the Arkansas Public Service Commission may promulgate, amend, enforce, waive, and repeal minimum safety standards for gas transportation and pipeline facilities under the Administrative Procedure Act.

• Doubles civil penalties for violations of pipeline safety provisions: increases daily penalties from $100,000 to $200,000 per day and maximum penalties from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for related series of violations.

• Changes the annual assessment fee reporting deadline for natural gas pipeline operators from February 15 to March 15 each year.

• Creates new Class D felony offense for knowingly violating specified pipeline safety statutes and Arkansas Public Service Commission orders or safety standards.

• Establishes a tiered criminal penalty structure for pipeline damage based on actual damage amounts, ranging from Class A misdemeanor (≤$1,000) to Class B felony (>$25,000), and creates separate felony offense for unauthorized solid waste disposal within pipeline rights-of-way.