Investigations

On May 23, 2019, in U.S. District Court, Knoxville, Tennessee, Berthold Technologies U.S.A (Berthold) was sentenced to a $500,000 fine and $800 special assessment. In July 2017, Berthold pleaded guilty to misrepresenting that devices shipped in interstate commerce had been tested and met DOT requirements for radioactive containers. These devices were primarily used by the oil and gasoline industry to measure the density of fluids used in natural gas fracking operations across the United States between March and October 2014.

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Department of Energy.