Science

Marcellus Shale operators — and drilling opponents — waiting for the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to issue proposed natural gas development rules should get their wish Thursday morning, officials said.

Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar last week launched a coordinated strategy to address climate change science and resource management strategies. The move came as prospects to pass federal climate change legislation this year appeared to dim (see related story).

Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar Monday launched a coordinated strategy to address climate change science and resource management strategies.

Seattle-based R.W. Beck Group Inc. is to be acquired by McLean, VA-based Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), a $10.1 billion, 45,000-employee organization with ties to the U.S. departments of Defense, Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. R.W. Beck has clients in the public and private sectors, covering energy, water, wastewater and solid waste industries. SAIC said the deal includes acquiring Beck Disaster Recovery (BDR), an emergency management consulting businesses. R.W. Beck is the majority owner of BDR. R.W. Beck will join SAIC’s infrastructure, logistics and product solutions group led by Group President Joe Craver. It is one of four main segments of SAIC. The acquisition is expected to close at the beginning of August, subject to R.W. Beck shareholder approval and customary conditions.

The Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee introduced pipeline safety reauthorization legislation late Wednesday that mirrors many of the same provisions in the House bills. Despite the activity on Capitol Hill, legislative analysts believe the odds are low that a pipe safety bill will clear Congress this year.

Predicting domestic gas production may be more of an art than a science. Forecasts of top analysts, consultants and the federal government vary so widely as to make them all almost unusable.

A study released last week by Santa Monica, CA-based Rand Science and Technology raised a caution flag for California becoming overly reliant on natural gas-fired electric generation, which it said could add to the risk of more volatile and rising gas prices. Assuming under current plans that the state’s natural gas use could double by 2010, the report advocates a “balanced portfolio” approach to the state’s future energy planning that will minimize risks of supply/price volatility.

A study released Wednesday by Santa Monica, CA-based Rand Science and Technology raised a caution flag for California becoming overly reliant on natural gas-fired electric generation, which it said could add to the risk of more volatile and rising gas prices. Assuming under current plans that the state’s natural gas use could double by 2010, the report advocates a “balanced portfolio” approach to the state’s future energy planning that will minimize risks of supply/price volatility.

A study released Wednesday by Santa Monica, CA-based Rand Science and Technology raised a caution flag for California becoming overly reliant on natural gas-fired electric generation, which it said could add to the risk of more volatile and rising gas prices. Assuming under current plans that the state’s natural gas use could double by 2010, the report advocates a “balanced portfolio” approach to the state’s future energy planning that will minimize risks of supply/price volatility.