The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on October 28, 2026, to modernize liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility safety regulations under 49 CFR Part 193.
The proposal would incorporate the 2026 edition of NFPA 59A, updating standards governing the siting, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of LNG facilities.
Key Proposed Changes
The proposed rule would:
- Incorporate NFPA 59A (2026 edition) into federal LNG safety regulations.
- Allow modern technologies, including pipe-in-pipe systems, single-walled ASME containers, and membrane storage tanks.
- Streamline regulatory requirements to support LNG infrastructure development.
- Reduce compliance costs, with DOT estimating approximately $100 million in annual savings.
The proposal follows PHMSA’s May 2025 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), which sought industry feedback on updates to existing LNG facility requirements.