[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24487-24488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10345]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0042]
Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On June 3, 2019, PHMSA granted special permit PHMSA-2018-0042
to Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC (GPLNG) for a six-year term, which will
expire on June 2, 2025. PHMSA-2018-0042 waives compliance from certain
regulations for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal (GPLNG
Terminal) located in Jefferson County, Texas. PHMSA is publishing this
notice to solicit public comments on a request from GPLNG to extend the
term for special permit PHMSA-2018-0042 until June 2, 2028. At the
conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments
received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny
the special permit request.
DATES: Submit any comments regarding this special permit request by
July 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for this special
permit request and may be submitted in the following ways:
E-Gov Website: http://www.regulations.gov. This site
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice
issued by any agency.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Docket Management System: U.S. Department
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket number for the special permit
request at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments
by mail, please submit two copies. To receive confirmation that PHMSA
has received your comments, please include a self-addressed stamped
postcard. Internet users may submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov.
Note: A privacy statement is published on https://www.regulations.gov. Comments, including any personal information
provided, are posted without changes or edits to https://www.regulations.gov.
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 United States
Code 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments
responsive to this notice contain commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as
private, and that is relevant or responsive to this notice, it is
important that you clearly designate the submitted
[[Page 24488]]
comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you may ask PHMSA to give
confidential treatment to information you give to the Agency by taking
the following steps: (1) mark each page of the original document
submission containing CBI as ``Confidential''; (2) send PHMSA, along
with the original document, a second copy of the original document with
the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the information you are submitting
is CBI. Unless you are notified otherwise, PHMSA will treat such marked
submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed
in the public docket of this notice. Submissions containing CBI should
be sent to Lee Cooper, DOT, PHMSA-PHP-80, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this matter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
General: Mr. Lee Cooper by phone at 202-913-3171 or by email at
[email protected].
Technical: Mr. Thach Nguyen by phone at 909-262-4464 or by email at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 3, 2024, PHMSA received a
request from GPLNG to renew special permit PHMSA-2018-0042 for three
more years after the expiration date, which will extend the term of the
special permit until June 3, 2028. Special permit PHMSA-2018-0042
allows GPLNG to deviate from the Federal pipeline safety regulations in
49 CFR 193.2603(a) and (b); 193.2607; 193.2609; 193.2619(c) and (e);
193.2631; and 193.2635(e) at the GPLNG Terminal, where all LNG
facilities are under nitrogen purge. The GPLNG Terminal has not been
operational since June 2012.
PHMSA granted special permit PHMSA-2018-0042 on June 3, 2019 with
an original expiration date of June 2, 2025 for the GPLNG Terminal
located in Jefferson County, Texas. The GPLNG Terminal consists of
marine berths, LNG storage tanks, vaporization facilities, and other
supporting facilities for LNG import operations. The additional three-
year term will allow GPLNG to complete construction of the export
facilities, including three liquefaction trains, and connect them to
the existing facilities at the GPLNG Terminal for LNG export
operations.
GPLNG's renewal request, active special permit with conditions, and
final environmental assessment (FEA) are available for review and
public comment in Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0042. The existing FEA, with a
conclusion of no significant negative impact, remains adequate,
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). No further environmental assessment is
required for this proposal. PHMSA invites interested persons to review
and submit comments in the docket on the special permit renewal
request. Please submit comments on any potential safety, environmental,
and other relevant considerations implicated by the special permit
renewal request. Comments may include relevant data.
Before issuing a decision on the special permit request, PHMSA will
evaluate all comments received on or before the closing date. Comments
received after the closing date will be evaluated if it is possible to
do so without incurring additional expense or delay. PHMSA will
consider each relevant comment it receives in making its decision to
grant or deny this special permit request.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 2, 2025 under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2025-10345 Filed 6-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P