The railway at the centre of the Lac-Mégantic derailment has a conditional — and brief — extension of its operating license in Canada.

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway Ltd. submitted a request to extend its cessation of operations to Oct. 1, according to a statement issued late Friday by the Canadian Transportation Agency.

The company provided “new facts and information demonstrating adequate third party liability insurance for the short term,” a release issued to the media said.

“Based on the new evidence provided today, the agency is satisfied that this provides adequate third party liability insurance coverage for operation from Aug. 20 to Oct. 1, 2013,” the statement said.

That variance is conditional on MMA filing with the agency by Aug. 23 confirmation that it has secured funds for the required self-insured portion.

If that is not done, MMA’s suspension will take effect at 5 p.m. on Aug. 23, the statement said.

On Tuesday, the federal regulator said that MAA had not been able to restore adequate third-party liability insurance after the July 6 disaster.

A runaway train convoy carrying crude oil derailed and exploded in the heart of Lac-Mégantic early July 6, killing 47 people, levelling a part of the town and spilling millions of litres of crude oil.

The U.S.-based MMA, which has sought bankruptcy protection in Canada and the U.S., was to have its “certificate of fitness” suspended. That suspension was to take effect Aug. 20.

On Tuesday, the agency’s CEO and chair, Geoff Hare, said the decision to suspend MMA’s license was not “made lightly” given the economic impact the cessation of operations would have on the communities served by MMA and MMA employees.

MMA and its Canadian subsidiary “were given full and fair opportunity to demonstrate that they have secured adequate third-party liability insurance coverage for their ongoing operations, which is a legislative requirement to operate a railway in Canada,” Hare said in a statement Tuesday.

Friday’s statement was issued to some reporters close to 6.30 p.m. Comment could not be obtained from the regulator nor could confirmation.

lmoore@montrealgazette.com

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