Military findings regarding the danger of LNG

United States Government conducted a study to understand the safety of LNG below are some excerpts from this study. To see the full reports go to: https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07316.pdf and https://www.gao.gov/assets/130/123692.pdf Excerpts: We also interviewed agencies responsible for LNG regulations and visited all four onshore LNG import facilities and one export facility. To address the second objective, we identified 19 recognized experts in LNG hazard analysis and convened a Web-based expert panel to obtain their views on LNG hazards and to get agreement on as many issues as possible. Specifically, the studies’ conclusions about the distance at which 30 seconds of exposure to the heat could burn people ranged from about 500 meters (less than 1/3 of a mile) to more than 2,000 meters (about 1-1/4 miles which is within the proximity of the school. "To the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives This report presents our analysis of the critical safety issues in transporting and storing liquefied energy gases-- liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gases (propane and butane). We have identified what we believe to be significant problem areas that warrant the immediate attention of the Congress and the cognizant Federal agencies. We made the review pursuant to our authority in the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, 31 U.SC. 53 (1970); the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1370, 31 U.S.C. 1154 (Supp. V 1975); and the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, 15 U.S.C. 771 (Supp. V 1975), made applicable to all of the Department of Energy by Section 207 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (Public Law No. 95-91). If liquefied energy gases spill from their tanks, they vaporize rapidly and become highly flammable and explosive. A major spill in a densely populated area--whether by acc.dent, natural forces, or sabotage--could result in a catastrophe. Because of the potential danger and the possible increase in the use of these liquefied gases, we believe that it is appropriate now to take any needed action to protect the public. We believe that future, large-scale liquefied energy gases facilities should be located away from densely populated areas; that any such existing facilities should not be permitted to expand, in size or in use; and that present urban facilities should be carefully evaluated to ensure that they do not pose undue risk to the public. We believe that large quantities of these substances should not be transported through densely populated areas unless they cannot otherwise be delivered. We also see the need for the Congress to consider consolidating in a single Federal Energy Health and Safety Regulatory Agency many such responsibilities currently scattered throughout many departments and agencies. B-178205 The report is presented in three volumes. Volume 1 contains the Executive Summary and the report chapters; Volume 2, the appendixes that support and supplement the chapters; and Volume 3, the full texts of the official comments we received from Federal agencies. In the Executive Summary, we have attempted to summarize and simplify the most significant points from the chapters. Copies of this report are being sent to the Secretaries of Commerce, Energy, State, and Transportation; the Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission; the National Transportation Safety Board; and the chairmen of energy related congressional committees and subcommittees. Comptroller General of the United States"