Special Permits and State Waivers Overview
Special Permits
A special permit (previously called a waiver) is an order that waives or modifies compliance with a regulatory requirement if the pipeline operator requesting it demonstrates the need and PHMSA determines that granting a special permit would be consistent with pipeline safety. Special permits are authorized by statute in 49 USC § 60118(c) and the application process is set forth in 49 CFR 190.341. PHMSA performs extensive technical analysis on special permit applications and typically conditions a grant of a special permit on the performance of alternative measures that will provide an equal or greater level of safety. PHMSA is committed to public involvement and transparency in special permit proceedings and publishes notice of every special permit application received in the Federal Register for comment.
For assistance with special permits or the application process, send an email to PipelineSPEngineeringDirector@dot.gov.
For background information on general and emergency special permits, please refer to the following documents:.
- OPS Special Permit Requirements (§190.341)
- Emergency Special Permit Information
- Guidelines Related to Special Permits for 192.611 (Change in Class Location)
State Waivers
A state waiver is similar to a special permit, except that it waives or modifies compliance with a regulation adopted by the state pursuant to its participation in the pipeline safety program under a certification authorized by 49 USC § 60105 or an agreement authorized by 49 USC § 60106. Prior to issuing a state waiver, the state is required to provide PHMSA with a 60 day review period.
For assistance with state waivers or the application process, send an email to PHMSAOPSStateWaivers@dot.gov.
- Historical State Waivers (1970-Present)
- State Waivers Denial
- State Waivers Withdrawn, Expired or Terminated
Federal Register Notices Related to Special Permit Applications
Federal Register (FR) Notices | Description | Publish Date |
---|---|---|
PHMSA-2023-0136 | Class Location | Apr 24, 2024 |
PHMSA-2023-0071 | Odorization | Mar 1, 2024 |
PHMSA-2023-0020 | Class Location, Orange County, Florida | Apr 20, 2023 |
PHMSA-2023-0022 | Class Location, Hillsborough County, Florida | Apr 19, 2023 |
PHMSA-2023-0001 | Class 1 to 3 location | Jan 24, 2023 |
PHMSA-2023-0002 | Class 1 to 3 location | Jan 18, 2023 |
PHMSA-2022-0167 | Use of composite pipe Smartpipe®) and fittings to replace approximately 0.64 miles of an interstate gas transmission pipeline located in a Class 3 location in Roanoke County, Virginia | Jan 05, 2023 |
PHMSA-2022-0166 | Class 1 to 3 | Jan 05, 2023 |
PHMSA-2006-24058 | Add two (2) new pipeline segments to the existing special permit. | Dec 29, 2022 |
PHMSA-2019-0202 | Class 1 to 3 location change | Aug 17, 2022 |
PHMSA-2022-0084 | Class 1 to 3 | Aug 17, 2022 |
PHMSA-2019-0201 | Class 1 or Class 2 to Class 3 Location | Aug 17, 2022 |
PHMSA-2022-0075 | Class 1 to 3 location | Aug 10, 2022 |
PHMSA-2021-0118 | Class 1 or Class 2 to Class 3 Location | Feb 04, 2022 |
PHMSA-2022-0004 | FR Notice describing how PHMSA will review and process Pipeline Safety Enhancement Program (PSEP) requests from pipeline owners and operators (PSEP applicants or applicants) to implement safety-enhancing testing programs for innovative technologies and operational practices on natural gas and hazardous liquid (HL) pipeline facilities. | Feb 04, 2022 |
PHMSA-2022-0166 | Class 1 to 3 | Jan 05, 2022 |
PHMSA-2021-0052 | Sabal Trail Transmission | Aug 24, 2021 |
PHMSA-2020-0003 | Buckeye Pipeline | Jun 24, 2021 |
PHMSA-2021-0019 | Tennessee Gas Pipeline | Jun 14, 2021 |
PHMSA-2021-0042 | National Fuel and Gas | May 25, 2021 |
PHMSA-2021-0018 | Tejas Pipeline | May 24, 2021 |
PHMSA-2021-0017 | Colorado Interstate Gas | May 20, 2021 |
PHMSA-2019-0150 | Natural Gas Pipeline of America | Mar 5, 2021 |
PHMSA-2019-0153 | Tejas Pipeline | Feb 25, 2021 |
PHMSA-2019-0144 | Natural Gas Pipeline of America – Class Location | Jan 27, 2021 |
PHMSA-2019-0151 | Natural Gas Pipeline of America, LLC. | Jan 26, 2021 |
PHMSA-2020-0008 | El Paso Natural Gas – Class Location | Jan 25, 2021 |
PHMSA-2020-0007 | Southern Natural Gas – Class Location | Jan 21, 2021 |
PHMSA-2020-0006 | Tennessee Gas Pipeline – Class Location | Jan 18, 2021 |
PHMSA-2020-0004 | Natural Gas Pipeline of America – Class Location | Jan 11, 2021 |
PHMSA-2020-0005 | Colorado Interstate Gas – Class Location | Dec 8, 2020 |
2019-0201 TC Energy Columbia Gas | Class Location SP Request | Oct 5, 2020 |
2020-0077 Tennessee Gas Pipeline | Class Location change | Sept 9, 2020 |
2019-0237 Great Lakes Gas Transmission | Class Location SP Request | Sept 8, 2020 |
2020-0040 Gulf South - Kemper Lateral | Pressure Test Records | June 2, 2020 |
2020-0044 Florida Gas Transmission | Class Location change | June 2, 2020 |
2008-0213 Empire Pipeline Company | Class Location - Renewal | Mar 9, 2020 |
2005-20323 Northern Natural Gas | Odorization | Mar 9, 2020 |
2006-26614 Northern Natural Gas | Odorization | Mar 9, 2020 |
2008-0141 Northern Natural Gas | Odorization | Mar 9, 2020 |
2019-0174 Gulf South | Odorization | Dec 3, 2019 |
2018-0105 Gulf Stream | MAOP Increase | Aug 28, 2019 |
2017-0091 Hilcorp Alaska | Alternative Pipe Design | Oct 15, 2018 |
2017-0155 Hawaii Special Permit FR Notice | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. | May 25, 2018 |
83 FR 58 - Request for Special Permit | Gulf South/Boardwalk Pipeline Partners; Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA-2007-0039) | Mar 26, 2018 |
82 FR 86 - Request for Special Permit (SNG) | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2016–0159, Southern Natural Gas Company, LLC (SNG) | May 5, 2017 |
82 FR 86 - Request for Special Permit (EL Paso) | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2016–0160, El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC (EPNG) | May 5, 2017 |
80 FR 65 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit; City of Bangor, Maine (PHMSA–2016–0087) | Apr 6, 2017 |
80 FR 62 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2016–0149) Donlin Gold LLC | Apr 3, 2017 |
81 FR 176 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2007–0038, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.; PHMSA–2016–0072, Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.; PHMSA–2016–0073, New Fortress Energy-Tico Development Partners, LLC) | Oct 5, 2016 |
81 FR 85 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2016–0028) | May 3, 2016 |
81 FR 35 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA-2016-0004, PHMSA-2016-0006, PHMSA-2016-0007, PHMSA-2016-0008, PHMSA-2016-0009) | Feb 23, 2016 |
80 FR 247 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2015–0210) | Dec 24, 2015 |
80 FR 247 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA-2015-0210) | Dec 24, 2015 |
80 FR 115 - Request for Special Permit | Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel ANGELA–ARGO; Invitation for Public Comments (MARAD-2015 0074) | Jun 16, 2015 |
80 FR 115 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Special Permit Renewal Requests (PHMSA-2008-0257) | Jun 16, 2015 |
80 FR 115 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Special Permit Renewal Requests (PHMSA-2010-0063) | Jun 16, 2015 |
80 FR 23 - Renewal requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2008-0141) | Feb 4, 2015 |
80 FR 23 - Renewal requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2008-0213) | Feb 4, 2015 |
80 FR 23 - Renewal requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2006-26614) | Feb 4, 2015 |
80 FR 23 - Renewal requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2005-20323) | Feb 4, 2015 |
79 FR 213 - Renewal Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2008-0331) | Nov 4, 2014 |
79 FR 213 - Renewal Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2007-29078) | Nov 4, 2014 |
79 FR 213 - Renewal Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2008-0345) | Nov 4, 2014 |
79 FR 213 - Renewal Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2008-0066) | Nov 4, 2014 |
79 FR 213 - Renewal Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2009-0319) | Nov 4, 2014 |
79 FR 213 - Renewal Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit (PHMSA-2008-0330) | Nov 4, 2014 |
79 FR 37 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA-2013-0181) | Feb 25, 2014 |
78 FR 65429 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2010–0041) | Oct 31, 2013 |
78 FR 52820 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA-2013-0181) | Aug 26, 2013 |
78 FR 52821 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA-2013-0146) | Aug 26, 2013 |
77 FR 58623 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2007–0039) | Sep 21, 2012 |
77 FR 34458 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2012–0112) | Jun 11, 2012 |
76 FR 26793 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2011–0063) | May 9, 2011 |
76 FR 21423 - Requests for Special Permits | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2011–0063) | Apr 15, 2011 |
76 FR 11853 - Requests for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2011–0027) | Mar 3, 2011 |
75 FR 66425 - Request for Special Permit | Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit (PHMSA–2010–0124) | Oct 28, 2010 |