The Long and Winding Route by Tanker Truck
November Light - French Azilum, PA
Brian Keeler Studio, www.briankeeler.com
Miles to go before I sleep
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost, 1922.
This phase from the iconic Robert Frost poem could refer to a trucker driving a load of LNG through several municipalities on Route 6-11 through Clarks Summit, or through municipalities of the Back Mountain, or through Interstate and Turnpike construction, through 276 or 476 to get around Philadelphia, through bridge traffic across the Delaware – all en route to a port at Gibbstown, NJ, where the cargo will be deposited.
Over-road LNG tanker truck transport
The LNG loaded at Wyalusing Township will travel approximately 200 miles overland by tanker truck or rail to reach its destination, the export port at Gibbstown, NJ.
Unfortunately, PennDOT can’t help you avoid unwanted truck traffic on state roads. If a road use is legal, any legal vehicle can use it. Only if there is a history of crashes or incidents, such as steep downhill or tight-turning radius, would they be able to reroute truck traffic.
Traffic Volume
New Fortress Energy LLC projects making 3.5 to 4 million gallons per day of LNG. A tanker truck holds around 10,000 gallons.
That equates to 350 tanker trucks per day, or 15 filled tankers per hour departing Wyalusing and traveling a southeasterly route to New Jersey. That also requires 350 empty tankers returning. Do the math: that is one tanker in either direction, every two minutes.
Even a “small-scale operation (DOE definition of <51.75 Bcf per year, equates to 1.7 million gallons of LNG or 170 outbound tankers per day.
References:
Communities in Peril
PennDOT traffic study for New Fortress Energy shows the truck route along Routes 6-11 from Bradford County through Dalton, Glenburn Township, Clarks Summit, and South Abington Township to I-81, I-84, to I-380 S.
Hauling by Tanker Truck
Published, The Sunday Times, July 9, 2023. Reproduced with permission of The Times-Tribune and John Cole.
How large are the trucks? To efficiently transport LNG, 40-ft tankers would be used.
Photos in northeast PA. LNG tankers are white and say Methane Refrigerated Liquid.
In Clarks Summit, PA
Convoying LNG trucks in Clarks Summit, PA
In Clarks Summit, PA
On Interstate 81
Haul Routes
The haul routes are unknown. DEP did not need to know. Municipalities and counties along the haul route were not brought into the discussion. What might the routes be? Looking at a map, in the northern part of the state, the route from Wyalusing Township could be 29 south to 309 south, going through Dallas and Luzerne. Or, it could be Route 6 south through Tunkannock, Factoryville, Dalton, and Clarks Summit, on the way to interstate connections.
LNG Truck Hauling Dangers
Here in Northern PA, we don’t need a catastrophe.
LNG risks and the failure of regulation to protect the public
The KC Ingram show discusses New Fortress Energy, Florida Rail, and the failure of regulation with international HAZMAT expert, Fred Miller.
https://www.facebook.com/theKCIngramShow/videos/2591893814438182
The Storage and Transportation of LNG: What Could Go Wrong?
By Chris Mele, March 11, 2021
The project would mean up to 100 LNG rail cars – critics call them “bomb trains” – and hundreds of highway tankers snaking through or near densely populated communities, such as Allentown, Reading, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre and sections of Philadelphia and its suburbs.
https://delawarecurrents.org/2021/03/11/the-storage-and-transportation-of-lng-what-could-go-wrong/
LNG From Pennsylvania to New Jersey: 400 Tanker Trucks a Day
By Chris Mele | April 10, 2021
But the project sponsor also has plans to send as many as 400 tanker trucks per day, each carrying 10,000 gallons of LNG, crisscrossing Pennsylvania and New Jersey roadways, passing through or near small cities and communities with congested roads.
That’s significant given that project proponents, federal government and risk evaluators of the LNG-by-rail project have repeatedly said that the likelihood of a failure of an MC-338 cryogenic highway tanker is greater than that of a specialized rail tanker.
https://delawarecurrents.org/2021/04/10/lng-from-pennsylvania-to-new-jersey-400-tanker-trucks-a-day/
First Responders: Prepared for LNG Emergencies? The Evidence Is Not Reassuring
By Chris Mele, April 27, 2021
Hazardous materials regularly roll through Northeastern Pennsylvania communities by rail and road and it’s left to local first responders to be ready for when things go wrong.
https://delawarecurrents.org/2021/04/27/first-responders-prepared-for-lng-emergencies-the-evidence-is-not-reassuring-2/
Shortage of firefighters. Many rural departments struggle because they don’t have the population base to recruit enough potential firefighters and paramedics, as discussed at a firefighters convention. Aug. 4, 2023
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2023/08/04/western-pennsylvania-firefighters-convention/stories/202308040097
Disaster averted in tanker fire near I-80, Fernley, NV. September 2005
Hundreds were evacuated from homes and businesses and traffic was diverted throughout Churchill and Lyon counties after a tanker truck leaking pressurized liquid natural gas caught fire near Interstate 80. Due to the tanker’s pressurized contents, the risk of a massive explosion and shockwave was present, forcing evacuations and response from across the region.
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/disaster-averted-in-tanker-fire-near-i-80/
Are Pennsylvania roads safe for tanker trucks?
Many types of tanker trucks supply Pennsylvania state and county roads.
Unfortunate accidents have occurred recently. Whereas we are not keeping a compendium of accidents, we point to some recent accidents as a cautionary note regarding the suitability of area roads for tankers. To anyone who many have been injured in these accidents, we truly wish our support for a full recovery.
2 Dead In Fiery Crash On PA Turnpike. October 2023
At least two people were killed and another person was injured Saturday in a fiery crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to reports citing Pennsylvania State Police. An 11-mile stretch of the interstate remained closed for much of the day following the crash. The crash involving multiple cars and a tanker truck hauling jet fuel… Video shared on social media following the crash showed debris scattered across the interstate and large flames engulfing the tanker trucks and nearby cars… A news helicopter crew from ABC6 reported seeing the charred remains of the truck and two cars. The crash also prompted a brief evacuation for residents living on two nearby roads…
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/lansdale/pa-turnpike-shut-down-montgomery-co-after-multi-car-crash
Mass Evacuation After Tanker Truck Overturns, Spills In Eastern PA. November 2022
Hundreds of homes were evacuated after a massive spill sent 6,000 gallons of fuel through a residential area, authorities said. https://patch.com/pennsylvania/bensalem/s/ih7nj/mass-evacuation-after-tanker-truck-overturns-spills-in-eastern-pa
On May 24, 2022 a tanker truck carrying gas well pad brine crashed near Salladasburg along Larry's Creek, killing the driver.
Oil tank rollover in Srasburg Township, leaking hundreds of gallons of fuel. February 2022
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/fuel-tanker-leaks-hundreds-of-gallons-of-oil-onto-strasburg-township-road/article_065ca4f2-8452-11ec-8fa5-4bb5bbc32329.html
A road is closed after a tractor-trailer went off an Interstate 81 bridge in Butler Twp. in Luzerne County, crashing onto the local road below. Nov. 2021
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/butler-twp-road-closed-after-tractor-trailer-tumbles-off-i-81-bridge/article_26109d55-31dd-5874-880d-6573bceca24b.html
One Flown by Helicopter After Tractor Trailer Crash. September 2021
https://www.rocket-courier.com/articles/one-flown-by-helicopter-after-tractor-trailer-crash/
Water Truck Rolls Over on Sugar Hill Road. July 2021
https://www.rocket-courier.com/pageview/viewer/2021-07-29#page=2
Are there Safety Regulations for LNG trucking?
Pennsylvania has no specific regulations regarding LNG road transport.
In New York state, the intrastate transportation of LNG is prohibited unless the route has been certified by the New York State Department of Transportation.
https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Document/I6205a1e8b8c211e4ac080000845b8d3e?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&bhcp=1
Regulation of Hazardous Materials
Interstate movement of hazardous material is the jurisdiction of the federal Department of Transportation, of which PHMSA is a division. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49 Transportation, 100-177 and 178-179 regulations cover packaging, placarding, and labeling. https://ecfr.io/Title-49/
The shipper needs to register with PHMSA. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/registration/registration-overview
LNG is Hazmat, Flammable Gas 2.1, and is required to be placarded as such. You will see a specific version on white cylindrical tankers, along with the words “methane refrigerated liquid”
Flammable Gas Class 2.1 UN1972 DOT Placard. Designed in accordance with DOT regulations 49CFR part 172.500. Proper Shipping Name(s) (Taken from CFR Title 49 Paragraph 172.101) UN 1972 Class 2.1 Methane, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid) or Natural gas, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid), with high methane content). Required for easy identification of hazardous loads. Meets HM-215B Requirements Complies with International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and International Maritime Organization (IMO) dangerous goods regulations.
Hazardous Materials in Bulk Packaging are prohibited in Pennsylvania Turpike tunnels.
https://www.paturnpike.com/commercial/permits-restrictions/hazardous-materials-(placarded-loads)
Insurance
It is unclear who (shipper or carrier) must carry how much insurance of what type. We are continuing to look into the matter.
https://www.desmogblog.com/2019/05/21/virtual-pipelines-fracking-compressed-natural-gas-trucks
PA Municipalities stand up for safety
In 2020, the northern PA municipalities of Clarks Summit Borough, Clarks Green Borough, South Abington Township, City of Scranton, Jessup Borough, Pittstown Township, Kutztown Borough, and Lehigh County Commissioners passed resolutions, sent to the Delaware River Basin Commission, opposing the New Fortress Energy scheme that would send high volumes of LNG by truck or rail through their communities en route to the proposed export port along the Delaware River. In southeastern PA, Penndel Borough and Upper Moreland Township passed resolutions. In addition, New Jersey communities passed resolutions: Trenton, Princeton, Pennsauken, Runnemede, Haddon Township, Riverton, Hazlet, Burlington City, Merchantville, Barrington, Maple Shade, National Park and Palmyra.
https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2021/12/06/trenton-votes-to-oppose-gibbstown-fracked-gas-terminal/