FERC and PHMSA Sign MOU to Coordinate LNG Reviews
FERC and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which establishes a framework for coordination between FERC and PHMSA to process LNG facility applications in a timely and expeditious manner. According to the press release, PHMSA is responsible for standards governing the location and design of LNG facilities, and FERC is responsible for determining whether proposed FERC-jurisdictional LNG facilities are in the public interest. The MOU provides that PHMSA will review LNG project applications to determine whether a proposed facility complies with the safety standards set forth in PHMSA’s regulations, and will issue a letter to FERC stating its findings regarding such compliance. FERC will then consider PHMSA’s compliance findings in its decision on whether a project is in the public interest.