Notice2026-02476
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
February 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC (REX). The special permit request is seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations and to supersede and replace two existing waivers, Docket No. 2006- 23998 and Docket No. 2022-0044. 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 91 Issue 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 5803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02476]
[[Page 5803]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0455]
Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on
a request for special permit received from Rockies Express Pipeline,
LLC (REX). The special permit request is seeking relief from compliance
with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations
and to supersede and replace two existing waivers, Docket No. 2006-
23998 and Docket No. 2022-0044. 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
March 11, 2026.
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 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>.
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 FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Jamie Huff, 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: Ms. Jamie Huff by telephone at 812-677-8809, or by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1cbc0ccc8c48fc9d4c7c7e1c5ced58fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f79d969a9e92d99f829191b7939883d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>.
Technical: Mr. Joshua Johnson by telephone at 816-329-3825, or by
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#62080d110a17034c080d0a0c110d0c22060d164c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ddb7b2aeb5a8bcf3b7b2b5b3aeb2b39db9b2a9f3bab2ab">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PHMSA received a special permit request from REX, a subsidiary of
Tallgrass Energy, on July 18, 2025, seeking a waiver from the Federal
pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR 192.620(b)(2), (b)(4), (b)(7),
(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(6), (d)(7)(i), (d)(7)(ii),
(d)(7)(iii), (d)(9), (d)(11)(ii)(a), and (d)(4)(v) and (d)(7)(iv)(B) to
operate at an alternative maximum allowable operating pressure (AMAOP).
The REX Pipeline was constructed under waiver Docket No. PHMSA-2006-
23998 as an AMAOP pipeline before the AMAOP regulations under Sec.
192.620 were promulgated. Another special permit under Docket No. PHMSA
PHMSA-2022-0044 was later issued to allow for a waiver of class
location change requirements under 49 CFR 192.611 for segments
originally operated under the 2006 waiver; 49 CFR 192.620(c)(8) allows
a Class 1 and Class 2 location to be upgraded one class due to class
location changes. This special permit is proposed to supersede and
replace both previous special permits to create a unified and
consistent approach to pipeline safety, operations, and compliance by
aligning the regulatory framework applicable to the REX Pipeline with
existing Federal regulations.
The REX Pipeline segment is a 42-inch-diameter natural gas
transmission pipeline, 2,866 miles in length from the Cheyenne
Compressor Station in Weld County, Colorado, to the Clarington Hub in
Monroe County, Ohio. The maximum allowable operating pressure for the
REX Pipeline segment is 1,480 pounds per square inch gauge.
The special permit request, proposed special permit with
conditions, and draft environmental assessment (DEA) for the above
listed REX pipeline segment are available for review and public comment
in Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0455. PHMSA invites interested persons to
review and submit comments on the special permit request, proposed
special permit with conditions, and DEA in the docket. 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 February 4, 2026, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2026-02476 Filed 2-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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