As the United States expands its role as a global supplier of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), concerns over the safety and environmental impact of LNG transport and storage have intensified. LNG, formed by cooling natural gas to -259°F, allows gas to be moved across oceans to regions without pipelines.

While hailed as a cleaner alternative to coal, LNG brings significant hazards that often go overlooked. From environmental pollution to the risks of explosions, LNG’s dangers could impact communities near storage and transport facilities across the U.S.

 

The Process of LNG Formation and Its Risks

To transport LNG, natural gas undergoes a cooling process that turns it into a liquid state, reducing its volume by around 600 times. This enables transport via specialized tankers and trucks, which can then carry LNG to re-gasification plants worldwide. However, this process is energy-intensive and prone to leaks, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.

Each step of LNG’s journey carries risk, including potentially hazardous spills, fires, and explosions, especially if a leak interacts with an ignition source like static electricity. This risk led to a devastating explosion at an LNG plant near Freeport, Texas, which highlighted LNG’s explosive potential in high-pressure environments, E&E News reports.

 

Explosion Risks and Historical Incidents

Despite modern safety measures, LNG facilities are not immune to accidents. Facilities along the Gulf Coast have a history of incidents involving uncontrolled methane releases, as recorded by environmental advocacy groups. For example, the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana reported multiple gas releases in early 2022, which included 180,000 pounds of methane released within a single event, Global Witness reports. Accidents like these have underscored the importance of revisiting outdated safety standards for the storage and transportation of LNG.

“It’s important to remember that LNG poses unique safety risks, often above and beyond those posed by other hydrocarbon transportation, due to the high pressure and density,” Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, a Bellingham, Wash.-based safety advocacy group that tracks LNG safety, told E&E News.

An even more concerning hazard occurs when LNG escapes and vaporizes in a confined area. If the vapor cloud ignites, it can trigger a phenomenon known as a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE), which produces a massive fireball and shockwave. While industry groups argue that LNG is safer than other fuels, critics argue these claims downplay the potential for severe incidents, Breaking Energy reports.

 

Environmental and Health Impacts on Communities

LNG export terminals are frequently sited near low-income and minority communities, many of which already suffer from industrial pollution. The construction of new LNG facilities near residential areas exacerbates health risks, including respiratory illnesses and cancer linked to exposure to methane and other toxic emissions, the NRDC reports. For example, Port Arthur, Texas, home to two major LNG terminals, has a significantly higher incidence of cancer and heart disease compared to national averages. Community activists argue these facilities increase health risks and worsen existing social injustices by placing the burden of pollution on vulnerable populations.

Anne Rolfes, director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, echoed these concerns.

“The LNG terminals proposed for Louisiana sacrifice residents’ health and the very existence of our coast for the worthless goal of exporting gas.” she told the Environmental Integrity Project.

As the number of LNG terminals rises, so does the strain on local infrastructure, especially in flood-prone areas. These communities face heightened vulnerability to the effects of climate change and rising sea levels, which can lead to catastrophic floods and spills.

 

The Push for Updated Regulations

The federal government last updated its LNG regulations in 1980, a time when LNG was still a novel concept. Since then, the scale and nature of LNG operations have evolved significantly. In light of recent accidents and the rapid expansion of the LNG industry, there has been a renewed push to update these regulations, Gexcon reports.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has indicated plans to propose new safety guidelines, but industry representatives have already lobbied for flexibility in these rules. Advocates like Bill Caram argue that PHMSA’s current safety models do not account for the heightened risks of export terminals, particularly with heavier hydrocarbons like ethane and propane that are prone to explosions

Environmental groups are calling on PHMSA and the Department of Energy to adopt stricter standards to protect both the environment and nearby communities. Although new regulations could be published in the coming years, enforcement and compliance could take much longer, leaving current and proposed LNG facilities to operate under outdated safety standards.

 

Liquified Natural Gas offers economic benefits but carries significant risks that extend far beyond the facilities that handle it. From the potential for catastrophic explosions to the environmental impacts of methane leaks, LNG transport and storage represent a serious hazard to nearby communities and the environment.

As the LNG industry continues to grow, it raises critical questions about the trade-offs between energy security, public health, and environmental justice. Advocates for change urge policymakers to prioritize safer alternatives and stronger regulations, pointing out that a sustainable energy future cannot coexist with the unchecked expansion of LNG.

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