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MLRB Summary of Minutes-June 14. 2006 Pare 5 <br />a) RD&D Applications: Mr. King said we can expect to see five RD&D applications in the <br />next six months to a year. Shell may not make a decision on commercial development until <br />late 2009, 2010. <br />b) Oil Shale Education: Mr. King encouraged to Board to decide what they would like to have <br />more information about regarding oil shale to educate themselves on this subject. <br />Director Report: <br />a) Retirement: Mr. Cattany informed the Board of Bruce Humphries' retirement effective the <br />end of June. <br />b) Transition: Mr. Cattany told the Board Dave Berry will be the interim acting director of the <br />Office of Mined Land Reclamation. Mr. Berry will be overseeing both programs. Mr. <br />Berry will be doing a review of the staffing and the organization structure of the minerals <br />program to ensure efficiency. Loretta Pineda will be assisting with personnel issues. <br />c) Vacancies: Mr. Cattany said by the end of the month Mr. Humphries will present the top <br />three candidates to Mr. Cattany and Mr. Berry for the senior position in the minerals <br />program. The senior scientist position has been placed at a Level 2 position instead of a <br />Level 3 position. Consultants will be hired as needed for any scientific disciplines not <br />currently available in-house. <br />d) Decision Items: Mr. Cattany said no final decisions have been made by the Department at <br />this time on decision items. Russell George has approved the oil shale uranium FTE to <br />move forward. Mr. George has also authorized moving forward with the forfeited mine <br />sites decision item as well. <br />e) Supplemental Funding: Mr. Cattany said after the budget is submitted to the Governor's <br />office for fiscal year '07-'08, the supplement core will be discussed. The two components <br />of the supplemental are (1) An additional FTE for the AG's office; half for the Board and <br />half for the Division to accommodate the additional workload in anticipation of oil shale <br />applications, and (2) contractual funds for a prehearing office assistance, if needed. <br />f) Legislation: Mr. Cattany said adjustments are continuing to be considered for the oil shale <br />permit fee to allow extraordinary costs to be passed on to the applicant. There will be a <br />review in the next couple months to determine which Minerals fees need to be adjusted <br />because there is about a year's reserve left in the Minerals program. <br />g) ASARCO: Mr. Cattany met with Asarco a couple weeks ago with Apollo Gold, who has <br />expressed an interest in doing some diligence work at the Black Cloud Mine to determine <br />whether or not they want to acquire that mine. <br />h) Good Samaritan Legislation: Mr. Cattany said Dan Ellis is testifying on behalf of the state <br />in an informational hearing in Congress on Good Samaritan legislation. <br />i) Senate Energy Committee: Mr. Cattany said Russell George was on a panel in Grand <br />Junction for a field hearing of the Senate Energy Committee on oil shale and testified on <br />behalf of the Department. <br />