Susitna Valley readies for CBM forum

MAT-SU -- Much of the land in the Upper Susitna Valley is currently under shallow gas leases and, to help property owners in the area understand what that means to them, three community councils in the area are teaming up to sponsor the Northern Susitna Valley Coal-bed Methane forum Wednesday.

Sponsored by the Talkeetna, Trapper Creek and "Y" community councils, the event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Su Valley High School, and the list of presenters includes people from all over the coal-bed methane development map.

"This is really an issue a lot of people up here would prefer not to think about -- I know I didn't want another thing to think about," said event organizer Tom Kluberton. But after the area was leased, he said, and test drilling took place near Sheep Creek, people in the area began visiting community councils looking for answers.

Kluberton said no final decisions will be made as a result of the forum, but the information gathered may influence upcoming decisions relating to comprehensive plans in the Trapper Creek and "Y" community council areas.

"We're not looking for decision as much as we're looking for education," Kluberton said. "Let's get a balanced forum up here and see how people react before we start to jump out with any kind of opinion."

Kluberton said seven speakers have confirmed their ability to attend the meeting. Pat Galvin, with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas, will provide a summary of the division's work on surface regulations following the round of public workshops held in February. Bob Crandall from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans to speak on AOGCC's regulation of subsurface CBM drilling activity.

Mat-Su Borough Assembly members Jim Colver and Betty Vehrs will both speak on CBM-related activities at the borough level and Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy will attend and speak on the borough's efforts to respond to concerns about CBM development. A CBM ordinance that would apply to properties across the borough was recently drafted by the borough, and that ordinance will be available for public comment in the coming weeks.

Friends of Mat-Su Board President Chris Whittington-Evans will speak on CBM-related property owner issues and rights.

Corri Feige, representing Evergreen Resources Alaska, will speak on the prospect of further exploration and development in the northern Susitna valley and what technology they anticipate using in Alaska, and how to work cooperatively with them.

Mark Foster, an economist with experience in rural Alaska energy economics will discuss his ongoing work regarding the economics of CBM development.

Jim Clough, a geologist with the Alaska Geologic and Geophysical Survey in Fairbanks will speak on the geology of coal beds and what information he has about the prospects of CBM development in the Northern Susitna basin.

Following the presentations, Kluberton said, will be a point/counterpoint discussion of CBM issues. Attendees will be asked to hold their comments or questions until the panel discussion, Kluberton said.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.