State of Maine Public Utilities Commission — State Waiver

2022-0039-Maine-State-Waiver-Docket-No-2021-00112-Summit-Natural-Gas-of-Maine-Plastic-Service-Risers-LOD.pdf, page 1Official PDFU.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 March 24, 2022 Mr. Gary Kenney Gas Safety Manager State of Maine Public Utilities Commission 26 Katherine Drive Hallowell, Maine 04347 Re.: PHMSA-2022-0039 and Maine State Waiver Docket No. 2021-00112 Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. – Waiver for Plastic Service Risers Dear Mr. Kenney: By a letter dated February 3, 2022, pursuant to 49 United States Code (USC) § 60118(d), you informed the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that the State of Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) granted a state waiver, Docket No. 2021- 00112, on January 25, 2022 (Waiver) pending a 60-day review and no objection by PHMSA. The Waiver was granted to Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. (SNGME) for 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 192.121 as it relates to the design pressure and design factor of the plastic pipe in certain service risers within SNGME's natural gas distribution systems in Maine. On March 7, 2022, PHMSA submitted written questions to the Commission concerning material, design, operational, integrity, and safety issues associated with allowing the plastic service risers to operate at a design factor of 0.40, which is above the 49 CFR § 192.121 specified design factor of 0.32, and would increase the maximum allowable operating pressure from 80 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) to 100 psig. As of the date of this letter, PHMSA has not received the requested information. PHMSA renews its request for the above referenced information and believes an additional 60 days to review the Waiver following receipt of all requested information is necessary. Pursuant to 49 USC § 60118(d), be advised that unless the additional information is received for PHMSA to complete a thorough review of this waiver request, PHMSA objects to this Waiver.#

2022-0039-Maine-State-Waiver-Docket-No-2021-00112-Summit-Natural-Gas-of-Maine-Plastic-Service-Risers-LOD.pdf, page 2If you wish to discuss this or any other pipeline safety matter, my staff would be pleased to assist you. Please contact Sentho White, Director of Engineering and Research Division, at 202-366-2415, for technical matters. Sincerely, Alan K. Mayberry, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety PHMSA-2022-0039 – Maine State Waiver Docket No. 2021-00112 Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. – Waiver for Plastic Service Risers Page 2 of 2#