🏗️PHMSA Waives BABA Act for Gas Utilities
Pipeline Safety: Waiver of the Build America, Buy America Act Requirements for Gas Service Risers, Gas Service Regulators, and Gas Meters Under the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Program
Summary
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is waiving the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's domestic preference requirements for certain products widely used in natural gas distribution systems on the basis of nonavailability. The waiver will apply to awards obligated on or after the effective date of the final waiver for recipients of funding under the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program and, in the case of awards obligated prior to the effective date, all expenditures for covered products incurred after the effective date. The waiver will expire after three years after the effective date of the final waiver.
Agencies
- Transportation Department
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Business Impact
$$ - Med
The waiver of the Build America, Buy America Act for essential gas products directly impacts municipal and community-owned natural gas utilities eligible for funding under the NGDISM program. This provides opportunities for these entities to access materials that may not be available domestically, thus facilitating infrastructure development and project completion.