
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC15901]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
 
                        PART C--PIPELINE CARRIERS
 
     CHAPTER 159--ENFORCEMENT: INVESTIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES
 
Sec. 15901. General authority

    (a) Investigation; Compliance Order.--Except as otherwise provided 
in this part, the Board may begin an investigation under this part only 
on complaint. If the Board finds that a pipeline carrier is violating 
this part, the Board shall take appropriate action to compel compliance 
with this part. The Board shall provide the carrier notice of the 
investigation and an opportunity for a proceeding.
    (b) Complaint.--A person, including a governmental authority, may 
file with the Board a complaint about a violation of this part by a 
pipeline carrier providing transportation or service subject to this 
part. The complaint must state the facts that are the subject of the 
violation. The Board may dismiss a complaint it determines does not 
state reasonable grounds for investigation and action. However, the 
Board may not dismiss a complaint made against a pipeline carrier 
providing transportation subject to this part because of the absence of 
direct damage to the complainant.
    (c) Automatic Dismissal.--A formal investigative proceeding begun by 
the Board under subsection (a) is dismissed automatically unless it is 
concluded by the Board with administrative finality by the end of the 3d 
year after the date on which it was begun.

(Added Pub. L. 104-88, title I, Sec. 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 
926.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 11701 of this title prior to the general amendment of this 
subtitle by Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 102(a).


                             Effective Date

    Chapter effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. 
L. 104-88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104-88, set out as a note under 
section 701 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 15904 of this title.
