September conference in Billings focuses on Coal Bed Methane and Montana’s energy future

Coalbed methane development in Montana will be the focus of a
two-day conference on Sept. 26-27 in Billings.

Property owners, industry representatives, ranchers and farmers,
environmentalists and state and county officials are among the
targeted audience for "Coalbed Methane Development: What Do
We Know? Where Do We Go?" The conference — presented by the
Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy at Montana State
University — will be held at the Northern Hotel in Billings.

By Chronicle Staff

Patricia Morrison, assistant secretary for land and minerals
management for the U.S. Department of the Interior, will open the
conference Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Her keynote address,
free and open to the public, will cover the role of the federal
government, specifically the Bureau of Land Management, in
development of coalbed methane on public lands.

Several speakers are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 27, including:

• Gary Bryner, Natural Resources Law Center in Boulder, Colo.,
speaking on "Coalbed Methane: Prospects, Problems and Policies."

• A roundtable session, "Conflicting Evidence: What Exactly Do We
Know About CBM?" Moderated by Gallatin County Commissioner Bill
Murdock, the panel will include: Tom Richmond of the Montana
Board of Oil and Gas; rancher Nancy Sorenson of Spotted Horse,
Wyo.; John Wheaton of the Montana Bureau of Mines and
Geology; and Fred O’ Ferrall of the BLM.

• Author and activist Randy Udall, director of the Community
Office for Resource Efficiency in Aspen, Colo., on "Coalbed
Methane Development in the Rocky Mountain West."

• A panel discussion, "Options for the future: Where do we go?"
Moderated by Sen. Mack Cole, R-Hysham, chair of the Senate
Energy Committee, the panel will include: Clint McCrae, a rancher
in Forsyth and member of the National Public Resource Council;
Rich Collins of Fidelity Exploration and Production Co. in Denver;
and Mickey Steward, Coalbed Methane Coordination Coalition in
Buffalo, Wyo.

The conference will end with the audience participating in a
roundtable discussion on the issues surrounding coalbed methane
development.

All events will be held at the Northern Hotel. Morrison’s keynote
speech is free, but there will be a $15 charge for conference
materials and lunch Friday.

Registration and payment must be completed by Sept. 20.
Registration forms may be found at:
http://www.montana.edu/wheeler/fall_2002_conference_info.htm.
For information, call 994-0336.

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