WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal regulators will decide next week whether to approve two liquefied natural gas terminals in New England over strong objections from state and local officials and area residents.

Massachusetts lawmakers are already talking about a legal fight if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission allows construction of a facility in Fall River, Mass.

“I think you will see a lawsuit,” said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. “They (FERC) turned us down on our request for an evidentiary hearing. I think that’s what people had in mind when they made that request.”

It is not known how FERC will vote on the two projects, which are on their agenda for next Thursday’s meeting. But commission members, including Chairman Pat Wood, have repeatedly said that New England has serious energy needs that must be addressed, and LNG is an appropriate way to do that. Next Thursday will be Wood’s final meeting as a member of the commission.

State and local officials have argued against both proposals, saying the LNG terminals would create safety, environmental and homeland security hazards, particularly since they would be located in densely populated cities.

In recent environmental reviews, FERC indicated greater support for the $250 million Weaver’s Cove proposal in Fall River, Mass., than for KeySpan LNG’s $100 million plan to expand an existing terminal on the Providence, R.I., waterfront at Fields Point.

FERC commissioners have said that KeySpan would have to upgrade its facility to current safety standards, which would include replacing the tank, and possibly creating a “buffer zone” around the terminal in case of a spill or other accident.

KeySpan has said those upgrades would be too costly and force the company to take the terminal out of service for three years. The expansion would allow KeySpan to begin accepting more frequent LNG deliveries by ship.

New York-based Weaver’s Cove Energy LLC has proposed building a ship unloading berth, storage tank and two pipelines at a former Shell Oil site in Fall River.

The projects are among about 40 LNG proposals being discussed or are under consideration by FERC. If approved, the two plans would bring to six the total number of onshore terminals located in the continental United States, stretching from Massachusetts to Louisiana. There are two others in Alaska and Puerto Rico.

On the Net:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: http://www.ferc.gov

KeySpan LNG: http://www.keyspanenergy.com/klngexpansion/index-all.jsp

Weaver’s Cove: http://www.weaverscove.com/