PHMSA Settles Hazmat Shipping-Papers Case With Safety-Kleen Systems
PHMSA closed its enforcement case against Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. with a compromise order posted to the docket on October 28, 2026. The case stemmed from a December 10, 2024 inspection at Safety-Kleen's Albuquerque, New Mexico facility, where a PHMSA investigator found the company had offered and transported hazardous materials without providing required shipping papers, violating several sections of the Hazardous Materials Regulations tied to shipping-paper content and retention.
PHMSA issued a Notice of Probable Violation on June 18, 2025, proposing an $8,120 civil penalty. Safety-Kleen had already submitted corrective action by August 1, 2025. After a lapse in communication, PHMSA's Office of Chief Counsel reopened settlement talks in September 2026, and the company accepted a compromise offer on October 14, 2026. The compromise agreement sets the penalty at $6,090, a $2,030 reduction credited to the company's corrective action and willingness to settle.
Under the order, Safety-Kleen must pay within 30 days of issuance. PHMSA closes the case with prejudice once payment is confirmed.
What's next
- Payment due within 30 days of the order's issuance date.
- Case closes with prejudice upon PHMSA's receipt of final payment.
All sources
- Other: U.S. DOT/PHMSA – Final/Compromise Order with Certificate of Service — Regulations.gov (PHMSA), 2026-10-28
