Show Oil shale suspension challenged by suit Four environmental organizations are suing the Department of the Interior t to seek reversal of ofa a a department decision allowing developers of four shale oil-shale leases to suspend operations The complaint filed in US U.S. District Court contends that Interior Secy Thomas s Kleppe allowed the suspensions of operations not notto to further the conservation of resources resources but to help the developers financially That the complaint contends is illegal Kleppe granted the suspensions during the fall for J two wo leases in the Basin Basin near arR Rangely ng y Col Coland and two more more leases ii eastern Utah THE TilE COMPLAINT challenging challenging challenging chal chal- l his s' s action was was filed by bythe the Environmental Defense Fund the Colorado Open Space Council the Friends Friends of the Earth and the Denver Audobon Society In Denver Gr Gregory gory Hobbs assistant Colorado attorney general said the state might join in the suit to protect its interests He said the suspension suspension suspension sion of operations allows the developers to withhold 62 million in bonus payments for forthe forthe the Hie two tracts in Colorado part of wl which ch would go to the state Hobbs said the lease provision designed to aid development allows the oil oil- shale operators to offset the payments with investments in research technology or site on-site improvements which he said probably would mean the state would see none of the scheduled payments KLEPPE'S decision was in response to requests from six oil companies developing the tracts Standard Oil Gulf Shell Ashland Pl Phillips and Sun Oil who who said they had encountered environmental problems in ri the developmental plan planning ing stage The three payments already made by the developers total million and the total expected expected expected ex ex- ex- ex for the four tracts was million The suit filed in Washington contends contends' that the suspension which postponed the third anniversary date and with it the fourth payment has the effect of extending the time during wl which ch the lessees can relinquish oil shale oil tracts without making their two bonus in in st ts wIt w- w It contends that the suspension n amo amounts to an an illegal government subsidy The state shares of the lease payments are used to offset problems caused local areas by the rapid influx of people to carry out th the development Prepared by the AmericanS American S So Society o e i f e t y of Chartered Life U Un n nd d e the national society of life insurance professionals who have earned the C L U designation by meeting high educational ethical and experience requirements Q Would it confuse or handicap my insurance program pro gram if I had policies with two different companies A. A No you can have policies with many different com com- Some people have policies pol ides with a half dozen or more The important thing is to have one agent who will do all the checking and planning of your insurance and will be available available available avail avail- able when you need him |