{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA-2018-0042","title":"Golden Pass LNG — Pipeline Special Permit","source_type":"permit","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":"2019-06-03","effective_on":"2019-06-03","summary":"PHMSA-2018-0042, issued 2019-06-03 for Golden Pass LNG's liquefied natural gas system.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2018-0042.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2018-0042.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2018-0042","source_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2018-0042","body":"PHMSA pipeline special permit PHMSA-2018-0042. Operator: Golden Pass LNG. System: Liquefied Natural Gas. Issue date: 2019-06-03. Renewal: Oct 01, 2025.\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nOctober 1, 2025\nMr. Steven Andrews\nSr. Regulatory Analyst\nGolden Pass LNG Terminal LLC\n350 Pine Street, Suite 1500\nBeaumont, TX 77701\nRe: Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0042\nRenewal Special Permit Effective Through June 3, 2028\nDear Mr. Andrews:\nOn December 3, 2024, pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 190.341, Golden\nPass LNG Terminal LLC (GPLNG) applied to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) to extend the effective date of Special Permit PHMSA-2018-0042 for\nthree more years until June 3, 2028. The special permit waives compliance with 49 CFR §§\n193.2603(a) and (b); 193.2607; 193.2609; 193.2619(c) and (e); 193.2631; and 193.2635(e) at the\nRegasification Import Receiving Terminal located in Jefferson County, Texas (GPLNG\nTerminal), subject to the conditions set forth in the special permit.\nOn June 10, 2025, PHMSA published a Federal Register notice (90 FR 24487), announcing the\nspecial permit renewal request and requesting submission of public comments. The special\npermit renewal request letter and other pertinent documents are available for review in Docket\nNo. PHMSA-2018-0042 in the Federal Docket Management System located at\nwww.regulations.gov.\n1\nPHMSA received two public comments during the 30-day comment period submitted by\nanonymous commenters. One comment, submitted on June 11, 2025, recommended that\nPHMSA “not permit the pipeline for economic reason” because “producing and burning fossil\nfuels has created a crisis of global warming and climate change…” Section 60103 of 49 U.S.\nCode grants PHMSA authority to prescribe minimum safety standards for liquefied natural gas\n(LNG) facilities. PHMSA does not have authority to authorize siting or construction of new\nLNG facilities, and Special Permit PHMSA-2018-0042 does not permit a new LNG facility. The\nother comment, also submitted on June 11, 2025, stated “the pipeline deviation should be\nrequired based on the reported concerns to ensure public safety and potential hazards. It is\n1 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2018-0042\nSpecial Permit: PHMSA-2018-0042 – Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC\nLetter of Decision – Special Permit Renewal Page 1 of 2\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nimperative for the future analysis to identify underlying risks and to assess the impact of the\nmatter.” PHMSA issued the final environmental assessment (FEA) for the special permit on\nApril 10, 2020, which addresses affected resources and environmental consequences of the\nspecial permit, discusses alternatives, and compares environmental impacts of alternatives. The\nFEA is available on the docket, and PHMSA has determined that renewal of the existing special\npermit does not initiate additional environmental concerns that were not addressed in the FEA.\nPHMSA has reviewed operational and maintenance data for the GPLNG Terminal submitted\nwith the renewal request. Based on the information provided by GPLNG, PHMSA determined\nthat renewal of the special permit is not inconsistent with pipeline safety.\nAccordingly, pursuant to 49 CFR § 190.341, by this order—and as outlined in the existing\nspecial permit—PHMSA grants the renewal of Special Permit PHMSA-2018-0042, effective\nthrough June 3, 2028 to GPLNG. This special permit renewal order continues to waive\ncompliance with certain Federal regulations in 49 CFR §§ 193.2603(a) and (b); 193.2607;\n193.2609; 193.2619(c) and (e); 193.2631; and 193.2635(e) for the facilities at the GPLNG\nTerminal that are under nitrogen purge.\nMy staff would be pleased to discuss this special permit or any other regulatory matter with you.\nMax Kieba, Director, Engineering and Research Division, may be contacted at\nPipelineSPEngineeringDirector@dot.gov or 202-420-9169, on technical matters; and, Bryan\nLethcoe, Director, Office of Pipeline Safety, Southwest Region may be contacted at 713-773-\n7215 for operational matters specific to this special permit.\nSincerely,\nDigitally signed by\nLINDA GAIL\nLINDA GAIL\nDAUGHERTY\nDAUGHERTY\nDate: 2025.10.01\n16:20:23 -04'00'\nLinda Daugherty,\nActing Associate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nSpecial Permit: PHMSA-2018-0042 – Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC\nLetter of Decision – Special Permit Renewal Page 2 of 2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4488}