{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA-2022-0039","title":"State of Maine Public Utilities Commission — State Waiver","source_type":"permit","agency":"State of Maine Public Utilities Commission","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2022-02-24","effective_on":"2022-02-24","summary":"Maine state waiver granted 2022-02-24 for 49 CFR § 191.124.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-state-waiver-state-maine-public-utilities-commission.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-state-waiver-state-maine-public-utilities-commission.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-state-waiver-state-maine-public-utilities-commission","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/standards-rulemaking/pipeline/special-permits-state-waivers/state-maine-public-utilities-commission","body":"PHMSA-2022-0039. State: Maine. Entity: State of Maine Public Utilities Commission. Regulation: 49 CFR § 191.124. Date granted: 2022-02-24.\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMarch 24, 2022\nMr. Gary Kenney\nGas Safety Manager\nState of Maine\nPublic Utilities Commission\n26 Katherine Drive\nHallowell, Maine 04347\nRe.: PHMSA-2022-0039 and Maine State Waiver Docket No. 2021-00112\nSummit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. – Waiver for Plastic Service Risers\nDear Mr. Kenney:\nBy a letter dated February 3, 2022, pursuant to 49 United States Code (USC) § 60118(d), you\ninformed the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that the State of\nMaine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) granted a state waiver, Docket No. 2021-\n00112, on January 25, 2022 (Waiver) pending a 60-day review and no objection by PHMSA.\nThe Waiver was granted to Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. (SNGME) for 49 Code of Federal\nRegulations (CFR) § 192.121 as it relates to the design pressure and design factor of the plastic\npipe in certain service risers within SNGME's natural gas distribution systems in Maine.\nOn March 7, 2022, PHMSA submitted written questions to the Commission concerning\nmaterial, design, operational, integrity, and safety issues associated with allowing the plastic\nservice risers to operate at a design factor of 0.40, which is above the 49 CFR § 192.121\nspecified design factor of 0.32, and would increase the maximum allowable operating pressure\nfrom 80 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) to 100 psig. As of the date of this letter, PHMSA\nhas not received the requested information.\nPHMSA renews its request for the above referenced information and believes an additional 60\ndays to review the Waiver following receipt of all requested information is necessary. Pursuant\nto 49 USC § 60118(d), be advised that unless the additional information is received for PHMSA\nto complete a thorough review of this waiver request, PHMSA objects to this Waiver.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nIf you wish to discuss this or any other pipeline safety matter, my staff would be pleased to assist\nyou. Please contact Sentho White, Director of Engineering and Research Division, at\n202-366-2415, for technical matters.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry,\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety\nPHMSA-2022-0039 – Maine State Waiver Docket No. 2021-00112 Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. – Waiver for Plastic Service Risers\nPage 2 of 2","truncated":false,"body_characters":2533}