NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2006

Contact: Angie Joe
713.743.8153 (office)
713.617.7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

NOT IN OUR BACKYARD? UH LAW CONFERENCE EXPLORES
WHO DETERMINES LOCATION OF LNG SITES

With the continuing volatility of gasoline prices, U.S. energy companies are taking a closer look at liquefied natural gas (LNG), raising an important new issue. Just who can grant authority to establish these terminals?

That question will be explored during “Should We Site It Here? LNG, the Environment and Federalism,” a conference sponsored by the University of Houston Law Center’s (UHLC) Energy and Environmental Law Society March 3.

LNG proponents insist the processing method is inexpensive, safe and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Critics argue LNG sites are associated with risk of accidents, localized air pollution and visual blight.

“Given the positive and negative environmental issues associated with LNG, there is great debate about who – federal, state, local government or a combination – should determine where terminals should be located,” said Victor Flatt, UHLC associate dean. “The 2005 Federal Energy Act theoretically gave the federal government absolute authority. However, there are loopholes, and this is not the end of the story. Most recently, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a state controversy, Delaware v. New Jersey, about the siting of a terminal.”

Sheila Slocum Hollis, a partner with Duane Morris LLP, will provide an industry perspective on LNG. The Hon. Danny J. Boggs, Chief Judge of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and former deputy secretary of energy, will deliver the keynote address. Flatt will moderate the academic symposium.

Registration for the conference is $150 for the general legal community, $99 for government and non-profit employees, and free for UH students and reporters covering the event. Seven hours of CLE participatory credit are available. Register by e-mailing briefcase@uh.edu or calling 713-743-2201. Interested media should contact Angie Joe (ajoe@uh.edu or 713-743-8153). For more information about the conference, go to http://www.law.uh.edu/news/evites/LNG.pdf.

WHAT: “Should We Site It Here?: LNG, the Environment and Federalism”
WHO: UH Law Center Energy and Environmental Law Society
WHEN: Friday, March 3, 2006
8:30 a.m. – Welcome and introductions
9 a.m. – Overview of LNG
10 a.m. – LNG’s Environmental Promise and Peril
Noon – Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Hon. Danny J. Boggs
1:45 p.m. – Federalism and LNG
WHERE: UH Hilton Hotel and Conference Center

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