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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:.

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.

Federal Register Notices Related to Special Permit Applications

Federal Register Notices Related to Special Permits 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