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Coast Guard sets security zone around Georgia LNG terminal

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued an interim rule establishing a permanent security zone around El Paso Corp.'s Elba Island, GA, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, saying the addition of two berths for LNG tankers had increased security risks associated with the facility, documents show. The service said that in an expansion completed in early 2006, the terminal operator “inadvertently” created a 'safe refuge' off the Savannah River with unrestricted access to LNG berths. As a result, the LNG facility and arriving LNG vessels are put at risk of sabotage or other adverse action that could result in significant damage to property and a loss of life. The service said its concern was confirmed in June 2006 when a sailing vessel entered the LNG slip and anchored for six hours, one day before the scheduled arrival of an LNG tanker. The Coast Guard said the incident prompted the terminal operator to conduct a visual inspection of above-water mooring features and complete an underwater survey to ensure the berth was safe for the tanker.

Details Here: http://www.platts.com/Natural%20Gas/News/6338085.xml?sub=Natural%20Gas&p=Nat ural%20Gas/News

first published week of:   01/19/2007

Computer simulation monitors traffic in contraband nuclear material

Sandia National Laboratories researcher David York has developed a simulation program designed to track the illicit trade in radiological material well enough to predict who is building the next nuclear weapon and where they are doing it. Says York: “By using a cluster analysis algorithm coded into a program … I evaluated those traffic patterns and routes in which thefts, seizures, and destinations of materials were reported.” Cluster analyses link data of common place, time, or material. Testing a computer simulation on a known past event is one accepted means of establishing the program's validity. York collected and collated data from 800 open source incidents from 1992 to the present, along with the movement of dual use items like beryllium and zirconium.

Details Here: www.ccnmag.com/news.php?id=4737

first published week of:   01/29/2007

Cornell gets $10 million grant to fund ethanol research, infrastructure

Cornell University announced Friday, January 19,2007 that it has received a $10 million grant from the state that will aid in developing technology for industrial-scale production of ethanol. Cornell will expand research into the best ways to pre-treat grasses and woody plants before they are broken down into ethanol, particularly focusing on trying to find low-cost sugars that will improve the cost-effectiveness of ethanol production and looking for a combination of plants that can be grown sustainably and will produce high-yield sugars. Under the current federal subsidy structure, Iowa and other corn belt states have had a significant advantage in developing corn-based ethanol processing and distribution. New York state's recent financial support for several ethanol projects indicates it is interested in promoting the industry.

Details Here: www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070122/NEWS01/701220326/1002

first published week of:   02/02/2007

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