PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Liquefied natural gas terminals proposed for Providence and Fall River, Mass., would be located in smaller and more densely populated areas than other sites approved in the last 30 years, according to a published report.

Since 2003, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved construction of five new terminals and the expansion of two others.

Five of those sites had no residences within a half-mile of the facility, one had three homes near the facility and the other had nine, according to The Providence Sunday Journal, citing a review of FERC reports and population statistics.

But the proposed Providence and Fall River sites would have 695 and 1,200 residences, respectively, within a half-mile of their property lines, according to The Providence Plan, a nonprofit agency that keeps statistics on the city’s neighborhoods.

The FERC is expected to decide Thursday whether to approve the proposals by KeySpan LNG in Providence and Weaver’s Cove Energy LLC in Fall River.

KeySpan wants to expand an existing terminal on the Providence waterfront, while Weaver’s Cove has a $250 million proposal to build a new terminal in Fall River.

State and local lawmakers have strongly objected to the proposals, saying an attack or fire at the facilities could endanger lives and cause widespread havoc. Supporters cite New England’s need for more natural gas.

The other recently approved terminals by FERC also are much larger than the Providence and Fall River proposals – ranging in size from 101 acres to 366 acres. The Providence site would be 17.5 acres, while the Fall River terminal would measure 73 acres, the newspaper reported.

The Providence and Fall River sites would be based in areas with much denser populations as well. FERC is not required to weigh population density in evaluating an LNG proposal.

Four onshore LNG terminals are located within the continental United States: Cove Point, Md.; Elba Island, Ga.; Lake Charles, La.; and Everett, Mass.

To date, FERC has not rejected any proposal for an LNG terminal.