PHMSA 14-25
Contact: PHMSA Public Affairs, PHMSAPublicAffairs@dot.gov  

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that it has entered into a 20-year lease agreement with McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., as the site of the PHMSA National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Safety (the Center). The Center will facilitate research and development, training, and regulatory coordination between federal agencies, and will encourage the development of LNG safety solutions to real-world challenges through global and domestic collaboration among LNG stakeholders. McNeese was selected as the site of the Center earlier this year.

“Louisiana is at the heart of America’s growing LNG revolution,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “There is no better place to locate our Center of Excellence to ensure we safely transport this critical energy source.”

“We are excited to reach another important milestone in the construction of the Center, which will be a hub for advancing U.S. LNG safety,” said PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman.

“LNG production is one of the most critical ways our nation can unleash our energy dominance and protect our national security, and Louisiana is leading the way. I’m proud to see the U.S. Department of Transportation take this major step forward in building our National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety in Lake Charles. This Center will be a game changer for our region and be the tip of the spear for LNG innovation, operations, and safety in the U.S.,” said Senator John Kennedy (R-LA).

“We are thrilled to finalize the long-term lease with PHMSA for a location on our McNeese campus. This project has been in the works for over two years, and it would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Senator Kennedy and his staff, our partners in Washington, D.C., and our colleagues at the University of Louisiana. We believe having PHMSA right here in Lake Charles—working alongside us—will serve as a powerful catalyst for securing the future of our region’s vital industries,” said Dr. Wade Rousse, President, McNeese State University.

The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 mandated that PHMSA establish the Center to advance the United States’ role as the leader on safe LNG operations by:

• furthering the expertise of the Federal Government in the operations, management, and regulatory practices of LNG facilities;
• acting as a repository of information on best practices for the operation of LNG facilities; 
• facilitating collaboration among LNG sector stakeholders.

The lease will commence on August 1, 2025. Additional information about the Center is available on PHMSA’s website.  

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. Please visit https://www.phmsa.dot.gov for more information.

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