The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) (Washington, DC, USA) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) (Washington, DC, USA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expedite coordination during the permit application review process for proposed U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities.
“The department is committed to eliminating unnecessary delays to the advancement of critical national energy infrastructure projects, while never compromising safety,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The MOU clarifies each agency’s responsibilities related to the application review process for potential LNG projects, including PHMSA’s review for compliance with the siting requirements contained in Part 193 of the U.S. Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations.
PHMSA will encapsulate its findings in a letter of determination, which FERC will accept as the authoritative determination of a proposed facility’s ability to comply with safety regulations.
“PHMSA’s LNG safety experts are fully prepared to analyze current and future project proposals, evaluate their potential impact on public safety, and reduce barriers to moving these projects forward,” says PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott.
The agreement also refines information-sharing practices between the agencies, including all documents, information, and data submitted by facility applicants.
Source: PHMSA, phmsa.dot.gov.