Graves leads call for freight rail transport of LNG

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and several of his GOP colleagues recently called on the Biden administration to reconsider its proposed rule to suspend finalized regulations that authorize the safe transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by freight rail.

Rep. Graves, who serves as ranking member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led 19 committee Republicans in requesting that the administration end its plans to suspend the regulations, warning that such action could unnecessarily burden America’s transportation sector during the ongoing supply chain crisis and hinder access to an environmentally friendly energy source.

“As our country faces significant supply chain issues and rising energy prices, we should be incentivizing critical infrastructure that can provide additional capacity to the nation’s ability to safely transport energy and ease some of these challenges. Yet, the rollback of this rule once again places additional regulatory burdens to stifle key transportation infrastructure,” wrote the members in a Dec. 22, 2021, letter sent to Tristan Brown, acting administrator of the U.S. Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). 

The PHMSA on Nov. 8, 2021, published a notice of proposed rulemaking to rescind the July 24, 2020, final rule authorizing the bulk transportation of LNG in certain tank cars, according to the committee members’ letter.

Prior to the 2020 rulemaking, the only ways to transport LNG were by special permit issued by PHMSA for freight shipment, or by highway transport on large tanker trucks, they wrote, noting that the 2020 rule created an organized framework for PHMSA to authorize LNG transport by rail under hazardous materials regulations.

The lawmakers also pointed out that transportation of LNG by rail car will provide a safer, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly transport method rather than forcing it to be transported in large, more dangerous trucks, according to their letter.

“The 2020 regulation was finalized roughly a year ago. Given this, it is far too premature to fully and reasonably assess whether it must be changed,” wrote Rep. Graves and the members. “This rushed and arbitrary proposed rule will only contribute to our existing supply chain and energy issues. Accordingly, we strongly urge the administration and PHMSA to abandon this flawed proposal and keep in place the existing 2020 LNG by rail regulation.” 

Among the committee members who joined Rep. Graves in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD).