U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is seeking public input on proposed regulatory updates for liquified natural gas (LNG) facilities.
These updates aim to modernize outdated rules, streamline the approval process for LNG infrastructure projects, boost small-scale LNG markets, and expand U.S. export capacity. The move is part of the broader “Unleashing American Energy” initiative, intended to reduce industry regulations, cut costs, and stimulate economic growth.
The LNG-focused Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) is the first in a series of PHMSA actions aligned with the President’s Executive Order on energy expansion.
In addition, PHMSA outlined three other regulatory priorities: modernizing repair requirements for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines, updating rules related to pipeline class location changes due to population growth, and streamlining the transport of petroleum-based fuels and other energy products.
PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman emphasized that these changes are driven by growing energy production and increasing demand on pipeline and export infrastructure.
The agency claims the reforms will promote safety, efficiency, and technological advancement, potentially saving hundreds of millions in regulatory costs while strengthening the U.S. energy sector and supporting allies abroad.
