Save Passamaquoddy Bay
Alliance to Protect the Quoddy Region
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"For much of the state of Maine, the environment is the economy" |
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US Department of Transportation
(USDOT)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA)
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"PHMSA" is an initialism, but is treated by the industry as an acronym, using this non-obvious pronunciation: fihm-suh
While "DOT" obviously could be an acronym, it is always pronounced as an initialism: dee-oh-tee
PHMSA's Responsibilities
Among other things, PHMSA is responsible for regulating…
- LNG terminal Vapor Dispersion Exclusion Zones
- LNG terminal Thermal Radiation Exclusion Zones
- Natural gas pipelines
PHMSA's website
TopThe website ( http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/ ) is a subdomain within the US DOT's website.
Pipeline Regulations
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Pipeline Interpretations with search function
PHMSA Interpretation #09-0001
Jul 14, 2009
PHMSA Response Letter
To: Legal counsel to Calais LNG
Summary: PHMSA considers the City of Calais to be a government agency under the definition of "exclusion zone" within § 193.2007.PHMSA finds the City of Calais may control activities on the Devil' sHead property in accordance with § 193.2057, but we recognize that the City's authority to legally control all activities on the land is ultimately a matter of State law. Calais LNG is responsible for ensuring compliance with the thermal exclusion zone requirements for its LNG facility and the company is not alleviated from those obligations by virtue of the fact that the City of Calais, and not the operator, controls the activities of Devil's Head. Were certain facts to change in the future, such as a change in ownership of Devil's Head or to usage of the land, Calais LNG would still be responsible for ensuring its facility remains in compliance with 49 CFR Part 193.
TopPHMSA Interpretation #PI-10-0005
2010 Jul 16
PHMSA Response Letter
To: Legal counsel to Downeast LNGSummary: Downeast LNG may use the DLNG Source Tenn Model to calculate the vapor-gas exclusion zone for the sumps at the Robbinston LNG Import Terminal. The Company must also examine the effects of jetting and flashing in calculating the vapor-gas dispersion exclusion zone for any appropriate LNG facilities, including pressurized piping or equipment, to comply with the Siting Requirements in Subpart B of 49 C.F.R. Part 193.
Advisory Bulletins
Tophttp://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/regs/advisory-bulletin
ADB-06-04
2006 Dec 28
Pipeline Safety: Lessons Learned From a Security Breach at a Liquefied Natural Gas FacilitySUMMARY: This advisory reminds operators of the need for vigilance in providing security at liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. PHMSA's pipeline safety regulations require operators to implement security measures that deter intruders at LNG terminals, facilities, and peak-shaving plants. This Advisory Bulletin reinforces the importance of effectively implementing and thoroughly testing security procedures and systems.
ADB-10-07
Sep 24, 2010
PHMSA-2010-0226
Title: Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Obtaining Approval of Alternative Vapor-Gas Dispersion ModelsSummary: This Advisory Bulletin provides guidance on the requirements for obtaining approval of alternative vapor-gas dispersion models under Subpart B of 49 CFR Part 193.
Notices
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Standards & Rulemaking
Tophttp://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/regs
Information on pipeline safety standards, PHMSA rulemakings, special permits, advisory bulletins, state waivers, notices, and interpretations of pipeline safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49 Parts 190 to 199.
Special Permits and State Waivers
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Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
- DOT & FERC
1985 MOU: DOT and FERC Regarding LNG FacilitiesPHMSA Dockets
> All dockets are located at Regulations.gov <
Filing Comments to a Docket
To submit a comment to a docket, go to any filing in that docket and click the "Submit a Comment" button. (If no Submit a Comment button exists, try a different filing in that docket.)
Although the resulting submission form indicates you are filing a comment a particular filing number, in actuality, your comment will be appended to the end of the docket, with a new filing number. Be sure to include in your comment the number of the filing you are commenting on.
Creating a New Docket
- Instructions on Creating a New PHMSA Docket (in a separate window)
- PHMSA "shell" Docket Page on Regulations.gov (in a separate window)
& Date Posted
& DescriptionPHMSA-2007-0001 PHMSA Shell Docket
& Date Posted
& DescriptionPHMSA-2007-0001-0012
On 2014 Apr 30 this filing was
moved to PHMSA-2014-0048
(See next entry, below.)Save Passamaquoddy Bay — Petition
(Moved to next entry, below.)PHMSA-2014-0048-0001 Save Passamaquoddy Bay — Petition
Motion to rescind Downeast LNG's design release results approval. Vapor fences have not been validated by critical scientific analysis. Also, PHMSA failed to consider concurrent vapor fence failure with adjacent LNG piping along the 4,000-foot trestle to the proposed pier that would result in LNG vapor extending over private property that can be built upon outside the terminal — a violation of USDOT LNG terminal Exclusion Zone regulations.PHMSA-2014-0048-0002
01 -Motion-Thermal-Radiation
02-Venart Tanktop Fire
03-LNG Tank Top Fires DOTSave Passamaquoddy Bay — Petition
Motion to negate PHMSA approval of Downeast LNG's thermal radiation Exclusion Zone, due to oversights and flaws in Downeast LNG's modeling, as demonstrated by Dr. James Venart.
Posted 2014 XXX XX
[As of 2014 May 9 —
Not yet posted to the docket][As of 2014 May 9 —
Not yet posted to the docket]Save Passamaquoddy Bay — Comment
Webmaster's comment: Recent LNG and natural gas facility explosions at Williams Company's LNG peakshaving plant in Plymouth, Washington, and pumping station in Wyoming, demonstrate that black swan events occur at LNG and natural gas facilities.
- Alternative Vapor-Gas Dispersion Models— Obtaining Approval
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Color Key to Filings Grey = LNG Project Neutral |
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PHMSA-2011-0075 — use of PHAST, ODEPACK consequence model [gas vapor dispersion Hazard Zone] |
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Date Posted |
Docket File Number |
Filing Party |
| 2011 Apr 07 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0001 | Det Norske Veritas Summary: Request for interpretation. |
| PHMSA-2011-0075-0002 | Center for Applied Computing, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Summary: A discussion of computer program: ODEPACK - A Systematized Collection of ODE Solvers. |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0003 | Det Norske Veritas Summary: Documentation for proposed PHAST modeling. |
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| 2011 Apr 25 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0004 | USDOT/PHMSA Summary: List of 2011 Feb 25 conference call participants. |
| PHMSA-2011-0075-0005 | USDOT/PHMSA Summary: List of 2011 Mar 9 conference call participants. |
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| 2011 Apr 29 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0006 | USDOT/PHMSA Summary: Requests additional information from Det Norske Veritas on PHAST model. |
| PHMSA-2011-0075-0007 | Det Norske Veritas Summary: Responses to PHMSA's request for more information. |
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| 2011 May 24 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0008 | Det Norske Veritas Summary: Updated submission to PHAST-UDM vapor dispersion model. |
| PHMSA-2011-0075-0009 | Senators Olympia Snowe, John D. Rockefeller, Kay Bailey Hutchison |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0010 | USDOT/PHMSA |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0011 | Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Olympia Snowe |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0012 | USDOT/PHMSA |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0013 | Center for Liquefied Natural Gas [CLNG] Summary: CLNG opposes a public hearing on vapor dispersion modeling/LNG terminal Exclusion Zones. |
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| 2011 Jun 02 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0014 | Members of Congress (8) Summary: Letter opposing Weaver's Cove Energy's LNG transfer system in Mount Hope Bay and Fall River, Massachusetts. |
| PHMSA-2011-0075-0015 | USDOT/PHMSA |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0016 | Ronald S. Rosenfeld, M.D. Summary: Commends PHMSA for including public comments in the vapor dispersion Hazard Zone modeling decision making. |
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| 2011 Jun 16 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0017 | Save Passamaquoddy Bay Summary: Opposing US Senators and Center for Liquefied Natural Gas wanting to either expedite LNG import terminal permitting, or to prevent public comment on LNG terminal vapor dispersion models. |
| PHMSA-2011-0075-0018 | Save Passamaquoddy Bay Summary: Requesting a regulation interpretation regarding Downeast LNG's terminal Exclusion Zone extending over highway US-1. |
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| PHMSA-2011-0075-0019 | [Removed] | |
| 2011 Jun 21 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0020 | Det Norske Veritas Summary: Technical response re vapor dispersion modeling. |
| 2011 Jul 01 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0021 | USDOT/PHMSA Summary: PHMSA rejects the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas request to disallow public comment and a public hearing. (The public will continue to be allowed to submit comments, and there may be a public hearing.) |
| 2011 Jul 13 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0022 | USDOT/PHMSA Summary: PHMSA issues its draft decision on the Det Norske Vertias alternative model for gas vapor dispersion modeling, indicating it will likely approve the model, with several conditions. Public comments are invited. |
| 2011 Jul 18 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0023 | Federal Register Summary: Federal Register Volume 76, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2011) has published PHMSA's draft decision on the Det Norske Veritas petition for approval of its Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool--Unified Dispersion Model. The comment deadline is August 11, 2011. Late comments may be considered, where possible. |
| 2011 Aug 11 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0024 | Det Norske Veritas Summary: Comments on PHMSA's Draft Decision. |
| 2011 Oct 11 | PHMSA-2011-0075-0025 | USDOT/PHMSA — FINAL DECISION approving the alternative model. |
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Color Key to Filings Grey = LNG Project Neutral |
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PHMSA-2011-0101 — use of DEGADIS, FLACS vapor dispersion model [gas vapor dispersion Hazard Zone] |
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Date Posted |
Docket File Number |
Filing Party |
| 2011 Apr 20 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0001 | GexCon Summary: Sensitivity analysis inputs for DEGADIS. |
| PHMSA-2011-0101-0002 | GexCon |
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| 2011 Apr 25 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0003 | USDOT/PHMSA Summary: Request for more information. |
| 2011 Apr 28 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0004 | GexCon Summary: Petition. |
| 2011 Apr 29 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0005 | GexCon Summary: Model evaluation report on FLACS. |
| PHMSA-2011-0101-0006 | GexCon Summary: Additional information. |
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| PHMSA-2011-0101-0007 | GexCon Summary: Model evaluation report on FLACS. |
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| 2011 Jun 02 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0008 | Members of Congress: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. John F. Kerry, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Scott P. Brown, Rep. James R. Langevin, Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. David Cicilline, Rep. James P. McGovern |
| 2011 Jun 17 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0009 | GexCon Summary: Petition for approval of FLACS as alternate model for LNG vapor dispersion. Information in addition to the cover letter is filed as Privileged & Confidential; thus, it is unavailable to the public. |
| 2011 Jun 21 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0010 | US DOT/PHMSA Summary: Response to Center for LNG (who had objected to allowing public comment), indicating that public comment will be considered "in a manner that is both expeditious and consistent with public safety." |
| 2011 Jun 23 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0011 | US DOT/PHMSA Summary: Enumerates 19 additional requirements GexCon must supply in order for PHMSA to determine if FLACS is a suitable alternative vapor dispersion model. |
| 2011 Aug 15 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0012 | US DOT/PHMSA Summary: Draft Decision Letter. FLACS may be more suitable for use than the currently approved vapor gas dispersion models in certain situations. PHMSA is prepared to approve GexCon's Petition to use FLACS as an alternative vapor gas model where suitable and with certain limitations. The public has 30 days to comment on whether either of the alternatives discussed in the Draft Decision Letter would have a significant impact on the human environment.. |
| 2011 Aug 17 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0013 | US DOT/PHMSA Summary: This notice advises owners and operators of liquefied natural gas facilities and other interested parties that the Administrator has issued a Draft Decision on GexCon US, Inc.'s petition for approval of Flame Acceleration Simulator (FLACS). |
| 2011 Sep 01 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0014 | US DOT/PHMSA .[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2011)] |
| 2011 Sep 08 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0015 | GexCon Summary: GexCon provides numerous comments on PHMSA's Draft Decision regarding the FLACS model of vapor-gas dispersion. |
| 2011 Sep 26 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0016 | Hess LNG, Ltd. "We believe that the review of the FLACS source term, conducted by PHMSA in preparing this draft approval, is at least as thorough as the review completed by PHMSA in accepting Downeast LNG's source model (Fullbright & Jawarski, PI 10-0005) and the review used to reject the continued use of the SOURCES model (Keppel & Miozza July 7, 2010)." |
| 2011 Oct 11 | PHMSA-2011-0101-0017 | PHMSA — FINAL DECISION approving the alternative model. |
Color Key to Filings
Grey = LNG Project Neutral
Gold = Anti-LNG Project in Passamaquoddy Bay
Brown = Pro-LNGPHMSA-2011-0159 — FERC violation of 1993 DOT-FERC MOU
Posted2011 Jun 20 PHMSA-2011-0159-0001 Save Passamaquoddy Bay
Summary: FERC violated the terms of the 1993 DOT-FERC Memorandum of Understanding. FERC has failed since 2009 to notify the DOT of a Thermal Radiation Public Hazard re LNG and natural gas facilities that were identified in two FERC docket filings.
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