Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)
LNG Storage in Dickson City
UGI has put LNG storage (and regasification) in the parking lot of Scranton Storage LLC’s property at 1011 Business Route 6 in Dickson City (a former K-Mart) to supplement its local gas supply during the winter. LNG will be stored in tanks above ground. Their capacity ranges from 1,000 to 30,000 m³ and the temperature must be kept cold at or below -177°F in order to maintain its liquid state.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is fracked natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for the purposes of transporting and storing. By cooling methane to -260 degrees F, it becomes liquid and is 600 times smaller than in its gaseous state. While this solves some problems with the transport and storage of gas, it also poses health and safety risks, impacts environmental justice communities, and perpetuates the reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
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Why are we concerned about this?
There are numerous reason to be concern which you will see below, but for our community the primary concerns are:
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Blast Zone Impact: There has not been a study to assess the potential blast radius. If it extends within a one-mile radius, every business within that area would be impacted. Even if your business sustains no damage it would have to remain closed indefinitely while repairs are made to roads and other infrastructure.
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Emergency Response Plan: A comprehensive emergency response plan has not been shared. It should be developed in consultation with the community and local emergency response units to ensure effective preparedness.
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Setback Requirements: LNG facilities should maintain a minimum 2,500-foot setback from homes and facilities housing vulnerable populations. The proposed site is within hundreds of feet of a business that caters to children.
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Protective Walls: Specific details regarding whether or not the facility will have protective walls have not been disclosed which makes it impossible to evaluate whether it will adequately safeguard public health.
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Transport
LNG is used when pipeline transport is not possible. This means that this highly flammable and dangerous product will be trucked through the busy commercial district and on I-81. If LNG spills it could ignite and create a fire that’s more intense that a gas fire.
LNG Health Impacts
Explosions
Stored at low temperatures, LNG is considered non-flammable. The risk can come if LNG warms and is then able to produce highly explosive vapors. LNG vapors can form a cloud that leads to an explosion stronger than normal chemical explosions. If a container fails to maintain temperature and LNG vaporizes rapidly, an explosion can occur. This incident occurred in 2022 at the Freeport LNG facility, and caused an explosion so strong it shook nearby homes.
Air Pollution
LNG facilities release methane, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds such as benzene. Each of these pollutants come with a host of health impacts that range from headaches, upper respiratory irritation, dizziness, and asthma attacks. Long term exposure can lead to heart and lung disease, cancer, and damage to internal organs. Researchers have found that when exposed to multiple pollutants at a time, breathing in even low levels can trigger asthma attacks and cardiac arrest.
Ground and Surface Water Pollution
By their own reports, LNG facilities put groundwater at risk. Contamination can happen during construction from fuels, lubrication oils and chemicals. There is potential for contamination during the operations phase from hydrocarbon products, fuels, lubricating oils and chemicals. Other contaminants of concern are heavier VOCs in liquid form such as benzene, xylene, and toluene, and heavy metals such as mercury.
Noise Pollution
The construction and use of LNG facilities can create a loud noise that has been described as a slow moving freight train by nearby residents, even with sound walls in place around the facility. Noise pollution has a high impact on fence line communities. Exposure to noise pollution is linked to cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. Sleep deprivation is a known and powerful trigger of anxiety and depression.
Mental Health Impacts
Living near industrial facilities can cause stress, and lead to anxiety and depression. Plants designed for LNG liquefaction or transport can cause years of noisy construction, lead communities to worry about their health and safety, and can make residents feel powerless as their neighborhoods are deemed “sacrifice zones” by industry.
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