PHMSA Proposes LNG Transportation by Rail Rule
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”), in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”), has published a notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) to authorize the transportation of LNG by rail in DOT-113 specification tank cars. According to the press release, currently, LNG may only be transported via rail in a portable tank with an approval from FRA. However, the DOT-113 specification tank car is specifically designed for the transportation of refrigerated liquefied gases, and current Hazardous Materials Regulations authorize the DOT-113 specification tank car for transportation of other flammable cryogenic liquids. Therefore, this design specification may be similarly suitable for the transport of LNG. “The NPRM is a result of President Trump’s April 2019 Executive Order recognizing the leading role the U.S. plays in producing and supplying LNG and the need to continue to transport this energy resource in a safe and efficient way.”