Notice2025-11782
Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 26, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for one (1) new special permit segment and one (1) special permit segment extension submitted by Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS), a subsidiary of TC Energy. PNGTS is seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 121 (Thursday, June 26, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 121 (Thursday, June 26, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27380-27381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11782]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2006-24058]
Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on
a request for one (1) new special permit segment and one (1) special
permit segment extension submitted by Portland Natural Gas Transmission
System (PNGTS), a subsidiary of TC Energy. PNGTS is seeking relief from
compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety
regulations. 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 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for this special
permit request and may be submitted in the following ways:
<bullet> E-Gov Website: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. This site
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice
issued by any agency.
<bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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 (2) copies. To
receive confirmation that PHMSA has received your comments, please
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit
comments at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Note: There is a privacy statement published on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Comments, including any personal information
provided, are posted without changes or edits to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
[[Page 27381]]
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and 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 treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this notice, it is important that you
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) Sec. 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 telephone at 202-913-3171, or by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2ded7d79cd1ddddc2d7c0f2d6ddc69cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e121b1b501d11110e1b0c3e1a110a50191108">[email protected]</span></a>.
Technical: Mr. Zaid Obeidi by telephone at 202-768-4354, or by
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e746f676a20616c6b676a674e6a617a20696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c263d353872333e393538351c383328723b332a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA received a special permit request from
PNGTS, a subsidiary of TC Energy, on March 27, 2024, seeking the
addition of a new special permit segment and, on April 16, 2024,
seeking a special permit segment extension to be incorporated into
special permit PHMSA-2006-24058. Both the new segment and extension
request are a part of the active permit's special permit inspection
area (SPIA). Special permit PHMSA-2006-24058 allows PNGTS to deviate
from the Federal pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR 192.611(a), (d),
and 192.619(a), where a gas transmission pipeline segment has undergone
a change from a Class 1 to a Class 3 location.
Special permit PHMSA-2006-24058 is active and was granted on May
22, 2023 \1\ and is effective until May 22, 2033 for four (4) special
permit segments, which include 9,905 feet (approximately 1.876 miles)
of the PNGTS natural gas transmission pipeline system located in the
states of Maine and New Hampshire. The new special permit segment is
requested for 2,625 feet (approximately 0.497 miles). The special
permit segment extension is requested for an additional 4,678 feet
(approximately 0.886 miles). If granted, the special permit segments
would total 17,208 feet (approximately 3.259 miles).
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\1\ Special Permit PHMSA-2006-24058 was originally issued on
December 17, 2007 and renewed on May 22, 2023.
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The active special permit segment, requested new special permit
segment, and requested extension, are as follows:
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Maximum allowable
Outside Length Year operating pressure
SPS No. Status County, state diameter Line name (feet) installed (pounds per square
(inches) inch gauge)
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2.................... Active Segment.......... Cumberland, ME......... 24 PNGTS Mainline......... 4,766 1998 1,440
Extension............... Cumberland, ME......... 24 PNGTS Mainline......... 4,678 1998 1,400
5.................... New Segment............. Cumberland, ME......... 24 PNGTS Mainline......... 2,625 1999 1,440
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Upon receipt of this request, an Environmental Protection
Specialist from PHMSA's Environmental Analysis and Compliance Division
reviewed the Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) and its findings. In
consideration of this, PHMSA finds that the expansion of the proposed
special permit would not result in significant impacts to the human
environment. Furthermore, the existing FEA and Finding of No
Significant Impact remain 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.
PNGTS's new special permit segment and extension request, active
special permit with conditions, and FEA are available for review and
public comment in Docket No. PHMSA-2006-24058. PHMSA invites interested
persons to review and submit comments in the docket on both the special
permit segment extension request and the new special permit segment
request. Please submit comments on any potential safety, environmental,
and other relevant considerations implicated by the special permit
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 comments closing date.
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 24, 2025 under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2025-11782 Filed 6-25-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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