WASHINGTON – Massachusetts and Rhode Island lawmakers are urging federal regulators to develop a regional approach for the review and permitting of liquefied natural gas terminals in the country.

In letters sent Monday to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Transportation and Energy departments and the Coast Guard, the 12 U.S. House members from the two states said proposals for LNG facilities should meet a defined regional need, particularly in New England, which uses a regional approach to electricity usage and demands.

Currently, the lawmakers said, federal agencies responsible for reviewing LNG proposals do not coordinate their permitting processes and thus could end up with facilities that are not in the nation’s best interest.