Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit; Golden Pass LNG Terminal, LP, 11394 [2019-05713]

Agencies

• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 11394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05713]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0042]


Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit; Golden Pass LNG 
Terminal, LP

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comment on a 
request for special permit, seeking relief from compliance with certain 
requirements in the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations (PSRs). 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 
April 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for the specific 
special permit request and may be submitted in the following ways:
     E-Gov Website: https://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: You should identify the docket number for the special 
permit request you are commenting on 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 https://www.Regulations.gov.

    Note: There is a privacy statement published on https://www.Reglations.gov. Comments, including any personal information 
provided, are posted without changes or edits to https://www.Regulations.gov.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    General: Ms. Kay McIver by telephone at 202-366-0113, or email at 
kay.mciver@dot.gov.
    Technical: Mr. Thach Nguyen by telephone at 909-262-4464, or by 
email at Thach.d.Nguyen@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 28, 2018, PHMSA received a special 
permit request from Golden Pass LNG Terminal, LP (GPLNG) to deviate 
from the PSRs in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 193, subpart G 
for the following provisions: Subpart G Maintenance--Sec. Sec.  
193.2603(a) and (b), 193.2607, 193.2609, 193.2619(c) and (e), 193.2631, 
and 193.2635(e).
    GPLNG proposes to create a hydrocarbon-free environment in the 
existing regasification terminal or Brownfield facilities prior to 
construction of the new liquefaction/export project to maximize safety 
of the interconnection construction. Existing equipment will be at 
ambient temperature, purged of all hydrocarbons and displaced with 
nitrogen. In some cases, containment will be broken for modification. 
The main gas supply pipeline will be blinded off from the Brownfield 
site. A hydrocarbon-free environment will allow new equipment/
facilities to be interconnected to existing equipment and allow certain 
existing equipment to be modified under safer conditions. While the 
GPLNG Terminal is out of service and purged free of hazardous fluid, 
GPLNG seeks to be relieved from performing the maintenance, inspection, 
and testing activities required in Sec. Sec.  193.2603(a) and (b), 
193.2607, 193.2609, 193.2619(c) and (e), 193.2631, and 193.2635(e). 
Prior to bringing the GPLNG Terminal back to service, GPLNG will carry 
out its recommissioning/restart plan, and PHMSA will perform 
inspections to verify that the LNG facility equipment and components 
are fully restored to their original and fully compliant functions.
    The GPLNG Terminal is located on the southern shore of the Sabine-
Neches Waterway in Jefferson County, Texas, approximately ten (10) 
miles south of Port Arthur, Texas, and two (2) miles north of Sabine 
Pass, Texas. Since June 2012, the terminal has maintained a warmed 
state, where all LNG has been removed, but equipment remains in a state 
of readiness that includes methane vapors. The GPLNG Terminal consists 
of two (2) berths, five (5) LNG storage tanks, and a regasification 
system. All associated piping, valves and pumps will be made 
hydrocarbon free in accordance with Sec.  193.2517 and American Gas 
Association's Purging Principles and Practices (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  193.2013).
    The proposed special permit conditions and Draft Environmental 
Assessment (DEA) for the Golden Pass LNG facility are available at 
https://www.Regulations.gov for public review and comment. We invite 
interested persons to review and submit comments on the special permit 
request, DEA, and other background materials in the docket. Please 
include any comments on potential safety and environmental impacts that 
may result if the special permit is granted. Comments may include 
relevant data.
    Before issuing a decision on the special permit request, PHMSA will 
evaluate all comments received on or before the comment 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 we receive in making our decision 
to grant or deny a request.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2019, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2019-05713 Filed 3-25-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P