The University of Colorado at Boulder Natural Resources Law Center will host a conference on coal-bed methane April 4-5, providing a forum for diverse points of view to address the role of CBM in meeting America's energy challenges.
The conference will be at the Comfort Inn conference complex at 401 17th St. in Denver, across the street from the Brown Palace Hotel.
"Coal-bed methane is one of the most contentious natural resource issues in the intermountain west," said Gary Bryner, research associate with CU-Boulder's Natural Resources Law Center. "Our goal is to bring together people from a variety of perspectives to discuss the issues and offer solutions to remedy problems that have been identified."
CBM, natural gas that is trapped in coal seams, is rapidly becoming a major source of natural gas in the western states of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The conference will examine the issues surrounding CBM in those states, including the economics of development, the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts and the best management practices for balancing development and resource protection.Ìý
The meeting is the first step in the center's effort to examine the issues, identify gaps in information and encourage parties involved with CBM to find common ground, said Bryner.
Highlights each day include keynote speakers Rebecca Watson, assistant secretary for Lands and Minerals with the U.S. Department of the Interior speaking on April 4 and John Watts, a consultant to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaking April 5.
The conference is free and open to the public, however pre-registration is required.
For more information about the conference call Jeannie Patton at (303) 492-1297, send e-mail to jpatton@spot.colorado.edu, or visit the NRLC Web site at .
The conference and CBM research were made possible by a grant to the NRLC by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Coal Bed Methane Conference Agenda
Thursday, April 4, 2002
Session I Comfort Inn, Ballroom B
9:00 a.m.-noon A Primer on CBM Development in the Intermountain States
noon -1:30 p.m. Lunch
Keynote Address - Onyx Room
Rebecca Watson, Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals, U.S. Department of the Interior
Session IIÌý Comfort Inn, Ballroom B
1:30-5:00 p.m. CBM Development Case Study: the San Juan Basin
Friday, April 5, 2002
Session III Comfort Inn, Ballroom B
8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CBM Development Case Study: the Powder River Basin
12:30-2:00 p.m. Lunch
Keynote Address - Onyx Room
John Watts, consultant, Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senate
Session IV Comfort Inn, Ballroom B
2:00-5:00 p.m. Summary, Conclusions, and Next Steps
For a more detailed agenda please visit the Natural Resources Law Centers Web site at