The Railroad Commission of Texas was established in 1891 under a constitutional and legislative mandate to prevent discrimination in railroad charges and establish reasonable tariffs. It is the oldest regulatory agency in the state and one of the oldest of its kind in the nation. The Railroad Commission have several regulatory divisions that oversee the Texas oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and the surface mining of coal and uranium.

Victor Carrillo - Opening Remarks
(Commissioner)

A native of Abilene, Texas, Victor Carrillo joined the Texas Railroad Commission in February 2003 when Governor Rick Perry appointed him to fill the unexpired term of Tony Garza who became U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.  Commissioner Carrillo has worked as a geologist, geophysicist, college professor, attorney and judge. He first entered elected office in 2000, when he was elected to the Abilene City Council. He was later elected County Judge of his home county.

Commissioner Carrillo helps to lead the state agency that oversees the Texas energy sector -- the oil and gas, pipeline and surface mining industries. In November 2004, he won his first statewide election garnering almost four million votes and securing a six-year term of office. From September 2003 to September 2005, he served as Chairman of the Railroad Commission.

Carrillo served as Chairman of the Texas Energy Planning Council that created a Texas Energy Plan to help ensure that Texas remains the premier energy producing state in the nation. Carrillo serves as the Governor's representative to the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission and was elected Second Vice Chair of that national organization. He will serve as Vice Chair for 2007. He serves on the Outer Continental Shelf advisory board to the Secretary of the Interior. He is also on the Board of Advisors of the Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law at the University of Texas School of Law.

Victor has both a B.S. and M.S. degree in geology. In 1988, he joined Amoco Production Company in Houston as a petroleum geophysicist where he gained experience in the full spectrum of oil and gas exploration and production activities. He is a licensed geologist by the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists.

From 1990-1994, while working professionally for Amoco by day, Victor attended the University of Houston Law Center at night, earning his law degree in 1994 with an emphasis in environmental and oil and gas law. From 1994-96, Victor worked as an energy attorney at the General Land Office where he advised the land commissioner on oil and gas, environmental, and general government issues.

Commissioner Carrillo is the son of a Mexican immigrant, the first in his family to have gone to college, and the highest-ranking elected Hispanic official in Texas.

Leslie Savage - Speaker
(Planning and Administration, Oil and Gas Division)

Leslie L. Savage is currently in the Planning and Administration section of the Oil and Gas Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas, where she coordinates rulemaking, analyzes state and federal proposed legislation, and coordinates the Division's programs with other state and federal agencies.

Previously, as the Assistant Director for Environmental Service, she was responsible for oversight of the permitting and monitoring programs for Class II underground injection wells and storage wells, and Class III brine mining wells, surface storage and disposal of oil and gas waste and commercial waste hauling; the Commission's hazardous oil and gas waste program; and waste minimization/pollution prevention programs.She has also been responsible for technical review of oil field contamination cases involving hydrocarbons, PCBs, asbestos, and metals.

Ms. Savage had been with Environmental Services since 1983 and previously worked with the Class II Underground Injection Control program and supervised the Commission's Statewide Rule 8 (Water Protection) group, and was the Deputy Assistant Director for Waste Management.

Ms. Savage holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Texas.

University of Texas at Austin - Center for Energy Economics

The Center for Energy Economics (CEE) helps prepare energy industry managers and their legal advisors, and government policy makers and regulators, for more competitive global energy markets. Their research focus is on frameworks for commercially viable energy projects and the business-government interface.

Michelle Michot Foss, Ph.D. - Speaker
(Chief Energy Economist and Head)

Dr. Michot Foss directs and conducts research, specializing in the energy value chains and associated investment frameworks; advises U.S. and international energy companies and governments; publishes and speaks widely on energy issues; and provides public commentary and testimony to governments. She has more than 25 years of experience on U.S. and North American natural gas market, industry, and policy/regulatory issues. This expertise ranges from large scale natural gas resource and infrastructure developments in the Rocky Mountains during the early 1980s to broad research on U.S. natural gas industry restructuring, North American continental trade, and international natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) developments. Dr. Michot Foss built and leads CEE's LNG research consortium. This effort encompasses LNG safety and security; import terminal facility siting; economic and community benefits associated with LNG import infrastructure development and operations; U.S. and North American natural gas supply and demand balances and role of LNG; and international LNG supply development and trade including energy sector technical assistance activities in producing countries where CEE has presence through its U.S. Agency for International Development cooperative agreement. Dr. Michot Foss also developed and directs New Era in Oil, Gas & Power Value Creation, CEE's international capacity building program. In addition to Texas and the U.S., Dr. Michot Foss and the CEE team have experience in Canada and Mexico; South America; Russia and the Caspian; Western Europe and Turkey; West Africa; and East Asia. In 2006, Dr. Michot Foss was chosen a Senior Fellow by the U.S. Association for Energy Economics for her contribution to the profession and association. She was selected one of the Key Women in Energy-Americas (2003). She was the 2003 president of the International Association for Energy Economics and 2001 president of the USAEE. Among others she is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN); and the Scientific Council, 50th Anniversary of ENI Commemorative Encyclopedia of Hydrocarbons. She serves on the advisory boards of Energy Magazine and the Consumer Energy Alliance, and on the editorial board of the International Journal of Regulation and Governance. She holds degrees from University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Colorado School of Mines, and University of Houston. Prior to her current appointment, she was research director and assistant research professor at University of Houston and held positions in energy investment banking and energy, environment, and regional economics research and consulting.

U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Information Administration

EIA, created by Congress in 1977, is a statistical agency of DOE and is one of the ten principal statistical agencies in the Federal government.  EIA provides policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.  EIA information products are used by public and private analysts and policymakers to monitor the current status and trends of energy supply and consumption.  This analysis includes LNG.

James M. Kendell - Speaker
(Director, Natural Gas Division)

Until late 2005, Mr. Kendell managed long-term natural gas forecasting and analysis at the Energy Information Administration (EIA), including natural gas analysis in the Annual Energy Outlook 2006 and development of natural gas models in the National Energy Modeling System.  He currently manages weekly, monthly, and annual natural gas data collections for the U.S. Government, as well as short-term natural gas analysis and contributions to EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook.  In 2005, he managed Impacts of Modeled Provisions of H.R. 6 EH: The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and in 2003 his division was a major contributor to The Global Liquefied Natural Gas Market.  He represented EIA in the Energy Modeling Forum study, World Natural Gas Markets & Trade, in 2004 and 2005.   He was Government co-chair of the Demand Task Group for the 1999 National Petroleum Council natural gas study, Meeting the Challenges of the Nation's Growing Natural Gas Demand.

Mr. Kendell graduated with an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration and a certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983. He received a B.S.J. with highest distinction from the University of Kansas in 1975.

Glen Sweetnam - Speaker
(Director of the International, Economic and Greenhouse Gases Division)
 
In October 2005, Glen was named Director of the International, Economic and Greenhouse Gases Division of the Energy Information Administration.  This Division produces the International Energy Outlook, the macroeconomic assumptions underlying the Annual Energy Outlook, and two congressionally mandated reports on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
 
Glen is returning to federal service after an absence of almost 20 years.  From 1979-81, Glen was an operations research analyst, and from 1983-1986 was the Director of Economic Analysis under the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Analysis at the Department of Energy. In the intervening 20 years, Glen has worked at the senior levels of both energy merchants and E&P companies, including Reliant Energy, ARCO, and Fina Oil and Chemical. Immediately prior to joining the EIA, Glen was a management consultant as a Vice President of Lukens Energy Group, a part of the Enterprise Management Solutions group at Black & Veatch.  
 
Glen received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Masters of Public Policy from University of California, Berkeley.

Andy S. Kydes, PhD - Speaker
(Senior Technical Advisor and the Acting Director of the Oil and Gas Division)

Dr. Kydes currently directs the activities of the Oil and Gas Division and performs quality assurance for the design and development of the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) and acts as senior technical advisor to the Office on all matters relating to forecasting, analysis, and use of the computing technologies to facilitate use of NEMS.
 
Prior to joining the Energy Information Administration and beginning in 1989, Dr. Kydes served the Consolidated Edison Company of New York Gas Supply Department as Manager of Forecasting, Planning and Financial Matters, managing strategic planning, operational planning, supply adequacy analysis, contingency planning, cash flow analysis, and supply and price forecasting functions. He formally acted as advisor to industry groups including the Gas Research Institute and the American Gas Association. He continued to act as advisor to the Energy Economy Project Advisory Group of the Gas Research Institute until GRI's merger.
 
From 1987 to 1989, Dr. Kydes joined Argonne National Laboratory to support policy analysis for the Office of Policy, Planning, and Analysis in the U.S. Department of Energy, where he coauthored the U.S. proposal for integrating country level analysis with global level analysis of global warming for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in April 1989. From 1976 to 1987, Dr. Kydes performed energy research, modeling, and forecasting at Brookhaven National Laboratory in support of the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Kydes was a member of the faculty in the College of Urban and Policy Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook from 1974 to 1976, teaching applied mathematics, statistics, and programming. Earlier he taught mathematics and physics at Milton Academy, Milton, Massachusetts.
 
Dr. Kydes graduated from Harvard University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering and Applied Physics. He received an M.S. in 1973 and a Ph.D. in 1974 in Applied Mathematics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
 
Phyllis Martin - Speaker
(Senior Energy Analyst)
 
Phyllis has been developing energy market models since 1974 in both the corporate and government sectors.  She has been an analyst in EIA's Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting since its inception in 1992.  Her emphasis is on natural gas markets, both domestic and international, with a strong focus on liquefied natural gas (LNG).  Ms. Martin has played a major role in the development of EIA's integrated energy models, and is currently involved in forecasting the future role of LNG in U.S. energy markets.  She has been a speaker at numerous national and international energy conferences, is a member of the Gas Technology Institute's faculty for their Fundamentals of Baseload LNG course, and is a published author in the LNG field.  She was a key contributor to the first government sponsored report on the global LNG market, The Global Liquefied Natural Gas Market: Status and Outlook.  Prior to her work with EIA, she was involved in consulting and mathematical modeling for Control Data Corporation and the Westinghouse Defense and Space Center.
 
Ms. Martin is a magna cum laude graduate of Saint Lawrence University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a Masters from the Johns Hopkins University.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Under the Natural Gas Act, as amended, and confirmed by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has the exclusive authority to approve or deny an application for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals onshore and in state waters, of LNG peakshaving facilities delivering gas into interstate commerce, and of any associated interstate natural gas pipeline.  The FERC is the lead federal agency responsible for the preparation of any required environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and for coordinating and expediting the issuance of all federal permits. 
 
After the completion of an intensive and interactive public review process, the FERC will make a determination of whether the construction and operation of a specific LNG facility is consistent with the public interest, and determine what terms and conditions should be imposed to protect human life, health, property and the environment, and to establish and maintain operational reliability over the life of the facility.  The Commission's approval of an LNG facility does not obviate the need for other federal permits and authorizations.  However, the FERC, in the context of the NEPA review determines the schedule for the issuance of all federal authorizations consistent with any statutory requirements.
 
The FERC, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Coast Guard share the role of assuring the safety, security, and reliable operation of LNG facilities in the United States.  The FERC's Division of Gas - Environment and Engineering, and specifically the LNG Engineering Branch, within the Office of Energy Projects assures the safe operation and system reliability of proposed and operating jurisdictional LNG facilities throughout the United States.  The FERC works closely with each agency to perform a comprehensive and seamless review of the facilities to ensure safe and secure operation.

Lauren H. O'Donnell - Speaker
(Deputy Director of the Division of Gas - Environment and Engineering)
 
Lauren O'Donnell is the Deputy Director of the Division of Gas - Environment and Engineering with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects.  Lauren graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor's degree in Geology and has been with the FERC since 1979. 
 
Lauren is one of the principal contacts for the Commission's Pre-Filing Process and the head of the Commission's Gas Outreach team.  This team is responsible for exploring and developing new ways of approaching coordination and cooperation between all stakeholders, and for educating stakeholders about the roles and responsibilities of the FERC regarding interstate natural gas pipelines and LNG facilities.
 
Chris M. Zerby - Speaker  
(Chief of the LNG Engineering Branch, Office of Energy Projects)
 
Chris Zerby has been employed as an engineer with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (and its predecessor the Federal Power Commission) since 1975.  During this time he has been performing design, safety and environmental reviews of LNG import terminals and peak-shaving plant proposals; monitoring projects during construction; and conducting annual/biennial inspections of facility operations.  His current position is Chief of the LNG Engineering Branch, Office of Energy Projects.  Chris received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh University, and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland.

United States Coast Guard

The Coast Guard is directly involved in regulating the transportation of LNG through a variety of specific jurisdictions.  These include three major areas of responsibility: shore-side facilities; Deepwater Ports (facilities outside of state waters); and LNG carriers.

Regarding shore-side LNG facilities, Coast Guard has facility regulations in 33 CFR 127 "Waterfront Facilities Handling Liquefied Natural Gas and Liquefied Hazardous Gas."  These regulations describe the requirements for the marine operations at such a facility and the Letter of Recommendation process used to assess the suitability of the waterway for LNG marine traffic.   In addition, the Coast Guard has an Interagency Agreement and is a key partner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the siting and permitting process.  The Coast Guard has issued guidance for carrying out Waterway Suitability Assessments to assess the suitability of a route for LNG carriers.

For Deepwater Ports the Coast Guard is responsible for regulations involving the design and operation of the facility.  We are also partners with the Maritime Administration for processing applications for LNG terminals outside of state waters.  The Coast Guard is the lead Federal agency for developing the Environmental Impact Statement. 

Every LNG carrier arriving at a U.S. port is regulated under the Coast Guard's Port State Control program.  This includes a 96 hour advanced notice of arrival and screening process.    In addition, the Coast Guard issues Certificates of Compliance for LNG carriers before they can visit a U.S. port (including a Deepwater Port).  To obtain such a Certificate the vessel must first be determined to be in compliance with all international standards for design, manning, and safety equipment.

Captain Lorne W. Thomas - Speaker
(Chief, Office of Operating and Environmental Standards)

Captain Thomas is currently the Office Chief, Operating and Environmental Standards at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and holds a post graduate degree from The George Washington University.  He has 22 years in the service with assignments afloat and at marine safety units in New York, San Francisco, Wilmington NC and most recently as Commanding Officer at the Marine Safety Office in Cleveland.

His Office develops and maintains standards regulating the marine industry through treaties, regulations and policy and represents the U.S. in national and international fora, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

His Office is also responsible for establishing safety and security standards for LNG vessels and facilities and processing applications for Deepwater Ports for LNG.
 
Commander Mark Prescott - Speaker
(Chief of the Deepwater Ports Standards Division)

Mark Prescott is Chief of the Deepwater Ports Standards Division at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  He retired from the Coast Guard as a Commander after 23 years on active duty in June 2004 to head up the newly established Deepwater Ports Standards Division.  The division is responsible for leading Coast Guard efforts to process deepwater port applications in conjunction with Maritime Administration.  He is a Professional Engineer and a 1981 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy with a BS in Ocean Engineering.  Mark received graduate degrees from the University of Michigan in Marine and Mechanical Engineering.  He has completed a technical tour at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center and field tours at Marine Safety Offices in New Orleans and Tampa.  During his last six years on active duty, Mark was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters as Chief, Vessel and Facilities Operating Standards Division, where he was involved in a variety of offshore energy related activities.

Commander John Cushing - Speaker
(Chief of the Vessel & Facility Operating Standards Division)

Commander Cushing is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and holds 2 post graduate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He has 22 years in the service with assignments afloat and at the Marine Safety Office in Portland, OR; the Marine Safety Center in Washington, D.C.; the Eighth CG District in New Orleans, LA, in addition to his current tour at CG Headquarters.

His Division develops and maintains standards regulating U.S. merchant vessels as well as waterfront facilities through treaties, regulations and policy; and represents the U.S. at national and international forums, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

His Division is also responsible for establishing safety and security standards for shore-side LNG terminals, and he was the project manager and principle author for NVIC 05-05, "Guidance on Assessing the Suitability of a Waterway for LNG Marine Traffic."

Raymond Martin - Speaker
(Project Manager in the Deepwater Ports Standards Division)

Mr. Martin is responsible for several proposed deepwater ports on the West and Gulf Coasts. He retired from the Coast Guard as a Commander after 20 years on active duty in July 2004. A 1984 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a BS in Marine Engineering, he also holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Masters of Business Administration from Loyola College in Maryland. While on active duty, his assignments included a technical tour at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center and field tours at Marine Safety Office/Group Los Angeles - Long Beach and Marine Inspection Office New York. During his last five years on active duty, he was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters as Chief, Systems Engineering Division, where he was responsible engineering regulations and policy for commercial vessels and offshore facilities.

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) promulgates and enforces regulations for the transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) under 49 CFR Part 193.  By reference, the regulations incorporate significant portions of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 59A, 2001 edition.  Now that a 2006 edition of NFPA 59A has been published, PHMSA will evaluate the differences between the 2001 and 2006 editions and determine whether Part 193 should be revised to incorporate the 2006 edition.  PHMSA and its State Pipeline Safety Partners also conduct annual safety inspections at 108 LNG plants, including import terminals and peak-shaving plants.
 
In addition to these regulatory activities, PHMSA ensures the safe operations and continuing education of the public, where LNG terminals are being sited.  PHMSA's Community Assistance & Technical Services (CATS) and Engineering & Emergency Support (E&ES) personnel participate in public meetings on the siting of LNG import terminals for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and DOT's Maritime Administration (MARAD).  PHMSA is also a participating agency in the safety and security reviews of LNG terminals and in that role assists FERC and MARAD in their development of Environmental Impact Statements for these facilities.
 
Two New England states have petitioned PHMSA to revise 49 CFR Part 193 to encourage remote siting of LNG facilities.  PHMSA has created Docket 19208 to consider these petitions.
 
In February 2005, PHMSA hosted an LNG Workshop involving government, industry, and community advocates to share information and develop methods for improving community awareness of LNG facilities.
 
Under a cooperative agreement between the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) and PHMSA, NASFM has created LNG educational materials and a companion video to provide local first responders and emergency planners with basic knowledge about LNG operations, hazards, and risks.  This information, coupled with extensive references, enhances the ability of local officials to create appropriate response plans for LNG facilities.  These educational materials were pilot tested in 2005 in communities near four LNG import terminals.  PHMSA and NASFM plan to implement the educational effort in communities where import terminals have been approved.
 
PHMSA is also sponsoring research to update its computer models for different types and sizes of LNG fires and to develop protocols for using these models in performing a risk assessment of LNG transportation and storage.  We expect the most recent academic and industry thinking shall be incorporated in these analytical tools, without sacrificing public safety.

Frank Licari - Speaker
(Staff Cryogenic Engineer)
 
Frank Licari is the focal point at the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for cryogenic engineering applications, like liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities.  For over 15 years, he has worked with PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Safety and Pipeline Safety programs to improve pipeline and transportation safety, and to introduce new transportation technology for hazardous materials.  During this time, Frank worked in PHMSA's Southwest Region and, while in private industry, directed engineering, operations, and safety programs for the pipeline service businesses of Air Products & Chemicals and Praxair (UCISCO).  His work included the transportation, storage, pumping, and vaporization of refrigerated liquids such as liquid hydrogen, LNG, liquid nitrogen, and liquid oxygen.  He also evaluated the societal risk for shipping, loading, and storing toxic materials like carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride.  He has experience in regulatory compliance, quantified risk and consequence analyses, process and behavioral safety, pipeline accident investigation, and ultrasonic inspection.  Frank also participated in ASME, ISO, CSA, SAE, and Compressed Gas Association committees.  He received his BSME and MBA from Lehigh University, and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania.

U.S. Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration (MARAD)

In accordance with the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended (DWPA, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA, Public Law 107-295), the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) were delegated joint responsibility by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation for issuing licenses to own, operate, and construct deepwater port (DWP) to import liquefied natural gas (LNG).
 
 MARAD plays a vital role in meeting Presidential energy directives, protecting the environment, building local economies, and improving mobility and safety in our Nation's oceans and ports.  MARAD and the USCG, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, must comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) within the time frame established for processing a DWP application.
 
As such, MARAD is responsible for determining the financial capability of potential licenses including citizenship and the decommissioning.  With the consultation and advice of USCG, MARAD is responsible for preparing a Record of Decision (ROD) for each application and finally, for approving a license, denying a license, or approving a license with conditions per approval of the Governors of the adjacent coastal states.  ROD is based on the conditions for license issuance set forth in the DWPA.

H. Keith Lesnick - Speaker
(Director, Office of Ports and Domestic Shipping)
 
A Chicago native, Mr. Lesnick started his career in government as a staff assistant to an Illinois Congressman where he served as Chief of Staff and Staff Director of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee.  He came to the Department of Transportation in 1995 to work as the Maritime Administrator's Special Assistant and is currently the Project Manager for the Deepwater Port Program. 
 
As the Project Manager, he is responsible for overseeing the authorization, construction, and operation of offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving facilities in the United States.  These functions play a vital role in meeting Presidential energy directives, protecting the environment, building local economies, and improving mobility and safety in our nation's oceans and ports.  Additionally, Mr. Lesnick oversees the Direct Surplus Federal Property Port Conveyance/Land Redevelopment Program, a conveyance program that transfers surplus federal real property to state and local public entities for the development and operation of port facilities.
 
Mr. Lesnick has been involved with the maritime industry for nearly 20 years.  Mr. Lesnick's industry experience is extensive and, in addition to the above, includes establishing legislation, policy implementation and oversight of regulatory compliance.  

Daron T. Threet - Speaker
(Attorney, MARAD)

Mr. Threet serves as counsel for the Deepwater Ports Licensing Program at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.  He provides legal advice to program officials and coordinates with counsel from cooperating agencies and applicants regarding the licensing and operation of Deepwater Ports.  Mr. Threet received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado, College of Business and his Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School.  Prior to joining the Department of Transportation, he was an associate in a Washington, D.C. based communications law firm.

Sandia National Laboratory

Sandia is a multi-disciplinary national security laboratory operated by Lockheed Martin for the Department of Energy.  Sandia is one of the major engineering laboratories for DOE.  Sandia's major missions include nuclear weapons design, safety, and security; nonproliferation; and infrastructure protection and security.  In support of these missions, Sandia has developed extensive expertise in the design, testing, and analysis for the transportation of a wide range of hazardous materials and cargos in a safe and secure manner under both accidental and intentional event scenarios.  The DOE requested that Sandia use these broad capabilities to help federal agencies identify and assess the potential safety and security issues to the public of marine imports of LNG.  The results of those efforts were developed into a guidance document for the public to use on the best approaches to conduct site-specific risk analysis and safety evaluations of large LNG spills over water. 

Michael Hightower - Speaker 
(Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff in the Energy Systems Analysis Department)

Mr. Michael Hightower is a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff in the Energy Systems Analysis Department at Sandia National Laboratory.  He is involved in research efforts in support of critical infrastructure, safety, security, and reliability.  He currently leads research and development programs in water and energy resource sustainability, and water and energy infrastructure security and protection.  Mike was one of the primary authors on a recent guidance report developed by Sandia on risk and safety analysis of LNG spills over water
 
Anay Luketa-Hanlin, PhD - Speaker
(Staff member in the Fire Science and Technology Department)
 
Ms. Luketa-Hanlin is a staff member in the Fire Science and Technology Department at Sandia.  Her organization is responsible for laboratory and large-scale fire science research and testing, as well as development of modern analytic tools for fire, dispersion, and thermal analysis.  She is the author or co-author of numerous papers and reports on fire modeling and analysis.  Anay was also one of the principal investigators and primary authors of the recent Sandia report on the risk and safety of LNG spills over water

The membership of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) comprises the most senior fire officials in the United States. State Fire Marshals' responsibilities vary from state to state, but Marshals tend to be responsible for fire safety code adoption and enforcement, fire and arson investigation, fire incident data reporting and analysis, public education and advising Governors and State Legislatures on fire protection. Some State Fire Marshals are responsible for fire fighter training, hazardous materials incident responses, wildland fires and the regulation of natural gas and other pipelines. Most of our members are appointed by Governors or other high-ranking state officials. Some are state police officers. Many are former fire fighters.

Some are fire protection engineers, while others are former state legislators, insurance experts and labor union officials.

William Kramer, Jr. - Speaker
(Deputy Director, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety)
 
Bill was appointed Deputy Director of the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety on March 1, 1999.  Prior to Deputy Director, Bill served as Bureau Chief of both the Bureau of Fire Department Services and the Bureau of Fire Code Enforcement. He joined the Fire Marshal's Office of the New Jersey State Police in 1983.  In 1984, the office was transferred and elevated to the Bureau of Fire Safety.  In 1993, the Bureau was again elevated to the Division of Fire Safety.  Bill's career in the fire service began in 1973 with the Cinnaminson Township Fire Department where he worked his way up through the ranks and served as Chief for 9 years.  Bill is a Certified Public Manager and has a Bachelors Degree is Fire Safety Management.

City of Everett, Massachusetts Fire Department

The Everett Fire Department is responsible for fire protection in Everett, Massachusetts.  Included in Everett is an existing LNG import terminal, one of four existing mainland LNG terminals in the lower 48 states. The terminal received its first shipment of LNG in November 1971. The 35-acre site includes a marine terminal for cargo unloading, two double-walled above-ground LNG storage tanks, and associated equipment.  The Everett Fire Department is, and has been, the first public defender of a fire emergency at the LNG terminal for nearly 35 years.  The Department is trained in LNG fire emergencies and procedures. In the 35 years that the LNG terminal has been in operation there have only been three releases of product requiring a response from the Everett Fire Department. In each of these responses the incidents were successfully mitigated without injury or ignition of the product. 

David Butler - Speaker
(Chief, Everett, Massachusetts Fire Department)

Chief Butler is a 28 year career firefighter with the City of Everett Massachusetts Fire Department. He was appointed to the Department on March, 29, 1978 and served as a firefighter until his promotion to Captain on July 3, 1985 at which time he was assigned as a company officer. On November 15, 1989 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief and headed up the Department's training division for one year before being reassigned as a shift commander. He was promoted to Chief of Department on August 23, 2000 and continues in that capacity today.
 
Chief Butler has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts and has extensive training and experience relative to Liquefied Natural Gas. He is also a member of the National Fire Protection Association Technical Committee on Standard 59A dealing with LNG facilities.

Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies

The Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies ("CES" or "The Center") conducts research and analyses of economic, statistical, and public policy issues in energy and regulated industries.  The Center has expertise in numerous aspects of the energy industry including offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities; the restructuring of natural gas and electric power markets; market structure issues in various energy industries; and the economic impacts of the development of energy industry infrastructure on the Gulf Coast.  One of the Center's primary research focuses is the development of liquefied natural gas ("LNG") in the U.S. and particularly facilities along the Gulf Coast, as well as the economic impacts associated with this development.  CES coordinates several annual energy conferences, one on traditional energy issues and one on alternative energy, which feature balanced agendas of speakers from such diverse backgrounds as federal and state agencies, advocacy groups, and major energy companies. 
           
The Center's research in natural gas and LNG includes the examination of natural gas markets, industrial uses of natural gas (particularly in the petrochemical industry) and its relationship to liquefied natural gas (LNG) development in the U.S., particularly in the Gulf of Mexico.  The Center has worked closely with industry, state and federal agencies on LNG issues that include gas quality issues, pipeline transportation issues, gas storage issues, and regulatory issues throughout the entire LNG value chain, as well as the natural gas industry.  CES has developed a number of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses for federal offshore regulators (MMS), examining the relationship of existing offshore and onshore oil and gas production and transportation infrastructure to potential sites for offshore LNG facilities.  Faculty and staff of the Center work in advisory capacities to policy makers on LNG issues.  They have also given many presentations and participated in several workshops on the issue.  CES works closely with the industries developing these facilities, including ExxonMobil, Cheniere Energy, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips.

Kristi A. R. Darby - Speaker 
(Research Associate and Geologist, Policy Analysis Division, Center for Energy Studies)

Kristi is a research associate and geologist at Louisiana State University's Center for Energy Studies.  She is involved in a variety of studies on the issues, challenges, and economic opportunities for LNG facility development in Louisiana and offshore Gulf of Mexico, and recently presented on LNG's role in the South's economic development at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference.  Other responsibilities include participating in research projects evaluating economic and policy issues associated with the energy industry in Louisiana and preparing grant proposals for various federal and state agencies.  Ms. Darby also assists in organizing the Center's semi-annual conferences on a variety of timely and important energy issues such as LNG, alternative and renewable energy sources, and enhanced oil recovery methods. 
 
Prior to joining CES in January 2004, Ms. Darby worked as a petroleum geologist for 5 years in Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas.  During her tenure at ExxonMobil, she worked as an exploration geologist evaluating seismic data and determining prospectivity offshore Brazil and in the South China Sea.  She also worked as a production geologist generating horizontal drillwell opportunities in tight carbonates in West Texas.  She was a development/production geologist with BreitBurn Energy, an independent based in Los Angeles, where she created cross-sections and geologic maps to identify bypassed reserves and enable waterflood implementation in mature Los Angeles basin fields.    
 
Ms. Darby has a MS in Geology from the University of Southern California and a BS in Geology from California Lutheran University.  She served as the Treasurer of the LA Basin Geological Society for 2 years and is now an active member of the Baton Rouge Geological Society.  She is a member of several professional associations including the International Association for Energy Economics and is the current Treasurer of the newly formed Louisiana chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics.    

David E. Dismukes, PhD - Speaker
(Associate Director and Associate Professor)
 
David's research interests are related to the analysis of economic, statistical, and public policy issues in energy and regulated industries.  Over the past 18 years, he has worked in consulting, academia, and government service. 
 
David has been on the LSU faculty for over a decade and since that time has led a number of the Center's research efforts on topics associated with most all aspects of the energy industry including offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities, the restructuring of natural gas and electric power markets, market structure issues in various energy industries, and the economic impacts of the development of energy industry infrastructure on the Gulf Coast.   His recent work includes directing the Center's research projects on the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the U.S. and more specifically facilities along the Gulf Coast.
 
David has prepared over 120 publications including books, book chapters, articles, reports, and academic society conference papers and is coauthor of a book on electric restructuring and competition published by CRC Press entitled Power Systems Operations and Electricity Markets.
 
Dr. Dismukes received his M.S. and Ph.D. in economics from the Florida State University.