The federal agency that regulates oil and gas pipelines has proposed to fine one of the Williams companies $1.6 million dollars for its violations of federal regulations that caused an October 2015 explosion at a gas compressor stations in Louisiana. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s investigation revealed numerous violations of federal pipeline safety regulations in the explosion that caused the deaths of four employees and required evacuation of residents near the compressor station. The investigation showed that the Williams company failed to take steps to minimize the possibility that gas vapors would explode during a welding operation. The proposed fine is also based on the company’s failure to make full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the explosion.