Sixteen AGs Filed Comments Opposing Proposal to Allow Rail Transport of Liquefied Natural Gas

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of sixteen attorneys general in submitting comments objecting to a proposal by two agencies in the Transportation Department — the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration — to allow the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail, including through densely populated areas. In their comments, the attorneys general warned that the proposed rule would “put the States’ residents, first responders and environmental resources at greater risk of catastrophic accidents” — a threat that PHMSA “has failed to adequately analyze just as it has failed to consider the environmental and climate impacts of allowing LNG to be shipped in rail tank cars.” The comments also stressed that the agencies’ environmental assessment of the proposal was “insubstantial,” and urged PHMSA to withdraw the proposed rule pending the development of a full environmental impact statement as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

• Documents: CommentsMD Press Release
• Document Type: Comment Letters Press Releases/Statements
• States: California Delaware Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New Jersey New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington Washington, D.C.
• Agencies: Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
• Issues: Chemical Accidents Clean Air & Climate Climate Cross-Cutting & Administrative Fossil Fuels Greenhouse Gas Emissions National Environmental Policy Act Oil and Gas Public Health Toxics
• Era: Trump Administration
• Action Type: Rulemaking & Other Federal Administrative Proceedings