Agency proposes LNG safety updates estimated to save $100M yearly

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has proposed updating federal safety rules for liquefied natural gas facilities, incorporating National Fire Protection Association standards for siting, design, construction, operations and maintenance. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the changes would let operators use newer technologies and save about $100 million annually while maintaining safety protections; the estimate is from the agency, and the proposal is not yet final. The move supports the Trump administration’s effort to accelerate energy infrastructure as the United States seeks to expand its position as the world’s leading LNG exporter, with production expected to grow by roughly 100 million metric tons annually by the end of the decade. Developers would still need to secure other permits and environmental approvals and could face legal challenges, while at least one project has encountered an unresolved pipeline-operating issue after an explosion.