Tuesday, March 28, 2006
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Central Time
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time / 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time

Program Overview:
In the U.S., natural-gas prices are up fivefold since the beginning of the decade, and approach record highs. About 57 percent of the nation's households use natural gas for heat, according to the Census Bureau. Natural gas also is used for such purposes as generating electricity and producing plastics and fertilizer. Demand has grown amid a strengthening economy and interest in cleaner-burning fuel. While the majority of natural gas consumed in the U.S. comes from North American wells, many fields are aging and the industry has found it difficult to boost production. With domestic production leveled off, the energy industry expected to compensate with imports of liquefied natural gas or LNG. In some areas of the United States, including New England, the supply-demand balance for natural gas could be tipped as early as 2007, but certainly by 2010, unless new delivery infrastructure is built. On the supply side, most of the worldwide gas reserves are "stranded" and not connected to pipeline infrastructure or markets. Liquefaction of these stranded gas reserves is the method for bringing this natural gas to market. The process has been occurring for decades in many parts of the world, but is a relatively recent phenomenon in the United States. In 2001, the industry began the process of reopening mothballed liquefied natural gas terminals and proposed building dozens of new ones with almost 60 projects currently announced for North America. The federal government streamlined the regulatory process with amendments to the Deepwater Port Act in 2002 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. As with any intensive energy infrastructure project, the environmental issues are myriad and complex.

The purpose of this conference it to highlight some of the more common environmental issues that arise in connection with LNG project development. Among those issues can be concerns related thermal impacts due to cryogenic temperatures, sea-water vaporization methods, air emissions, seismic concerns, exclusion zones for potential vapor clouds and radiant heat, as well as traditional project development issues related to wetlands, storm water discharge, and traffic. The conference will review both upstream and downstream environmental impacts from LNG development and community concerns in the U.S. and in Sakhalin Island, Russia.

Educational Objective:

• Using U.S. law as a guide, present a general regulatory framework for permitting.
• Discuss international environmental law issues that arise in connection with offshore projects.

Faculty:
Moderator:
George Rusk, Vice President, Ecology & Environment, Inc., Lancaster, NY

Panelists:
William H. Daughdrill, Marine Safety Specialist, Ecology & Environment, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA
David Gordon, Pacific Environment, San Francisco, CA
Dianne Phillips, Holland & Knight LLP, Boston, MA

This program will not offer CLE credit.

ConferTel Teleconference (Individual dial-in)
If you wish to participate by telephone please register online at https://my.confertel.net/confertel/crsRegister.jsp?program=206532

Online registration is encouraged for immediate confirmation and billing receipt. You may also complete this form and fax it to (760) 931-0079. Once your registration and payment have been processed, you will receive a confirmation with the toll-free telephone number and security PIN number.

The registration fee covers the cost of the phone connection; you are encouraged to have others listen to the program with you. Registration cannot be confirmed until ConferTel receives check or Purchase Order.

*The Section has secured ConferTel to provide conferencing services, including registration, conferencing and payment. Please make checks payable to ConferTel. Questions regarding the teleconference can be directed to ConferTel at (866) 930-4500.

Cancellation Policy:
Paid registrants who are unable to call in to the conference may request a refund less a $30 administrative fee. Substitutions are acceptable.

Late Registration Notice: Please register early, we cannot guarantee late registrations (day of event).

Questions? Do you have a question that you would like the panel to address? Please email your question to George Rusk by March 27, 2006 at noon Eastern Time and the panel will make every effort to address your inquiry.