# Golden Pass LNG — Pipeline Special Permit - **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. <<>> 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration October 1, 2025 Mr. Steven Andrews Sr. Regulatory Analyst Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC 350 Pine Street, Suite 1500 Beaumont, TX 77701 Re: Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0042 Renewal Special Permit Effective Through June 3, 2028 Dear Mr. Andrews: On December 3, 2024, pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 190.341, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC (GPLNG) applied to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to extend the effective date of Special Permit PHMSA-2018-0042 for three more years until June 3, 2028. The special permit waives compliance with 49 CFR §§ 193.2603(a) and (b); 193.2607; 193.2609; 193.2619(c) and (e); 193.2631; and 193.2635(e) at the Regasification Import Receiving Terminal located in Jefferson County, Texas (GPLNG Terminal), subject to the conditions set forth in the special permit. On June 10, 2025, PHMSA published a Federal Register notice (90 FR 24487), announcing the special permit renewal request and requesting submission of public comments. The special permit renewal request letter and other pertinent documents are available for review in Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0042 in the Federal Docket Management System located at www.regulations.gov. 1 PHMSA received two public comments during the 30-day comment period submitted by anonymous commenters. One comment, submitted on June 11, 2025, recommended that PHMSA “not permit the pipeline for economic reason” because “producing and burning fossil fuels has created a crisis of global warming and climate change…” Section 60103 of 49 U.S. Code grants PHMSA authority to prescribe minimum safety standards for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. PHMSA does not have authority to authorize siting or construction of new LNG facilities, and Special Permit PHMSA-2018-0042 does not permit a new LNG facility. The other comment, also submitted on June 11, 2025, stated “the pipeline deviation should be required based on the reported concerns to ensure public safety and potential hazards. It is 1 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2018-0042 Special Permit: PHMSA-2018-0042 – Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC Letter of Decision – Special Permit Renewal Page 1 of 2 <<>> imperative for the future analysis to identify underlying risks and to assess the impact of the matter.” PHMSA issued the final environmental assessment (FEA) for the special permit on April 10, 2020, which addresses affected resources and environmental consequences of the special permit, discusses alternatives, and compares environmental impacts of alternatives. The FEA is available on the docket, and PHMSA has determined that renewal of the existing special permit does not initiate additional environmental concerns that were not addressed in the FEA. PHMSA has reviewed operational and maintenance data for the GPLNG Terminal submitted with the renewal request. Based on the information provided by GPLNG, PHMSA determined that renewal of the special permit is not inconsistent with pipeline safety. Accordingly, pursuant to 49 CFR § 190.341, by this order—and as outlined in the existing special permit—PHMSA grants the renewal of Special Permit PHMSA-2018-0042, effective through June 3, 2028 to GPLNG. This special permit renewal order continues to waive compliance with certain Federal regulations in 49 CFR §§ 193.2603(a) and (b); 193.2607; 193.2609; 193.2619(c) and (e); 193.2631; and 193.2635(e) for the facilities at the GPLNG Terminal that are under nitrogen purge. My staff would be pleased to discuss this special permit or any other regulatory matter with you. Max Kieba, Director, Engineering and Research Division, may be contacted at PipelineSPEngineeringDirector@dot.gov or 202-420-9169, on technical matters; and, Bryan Lethcoe, Director, Office of Pipeline Safety, Southwest Region may be contacted at 713-773- 7215 for operational matters specific to this special permit. Sincerely, Digitally signed by LINDA GAIL LINDA GAIL DAUGHERTY DAUGHERTY Date: 2025.10.01 16:20:23 -04'00' Linda Daugherty, Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Special Permit: PHMSA-2018-0042 – Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC Letter of Decision – Special Permit Renewal Page 2 of 2 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 4488