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tions that are not well-known.
• "Personally, I would dearly love to see them drill the hole" Iles said.
• The only witness for Quartz Operations in Thursday's hearing was Louis Loehr, of Gillette, Wyo., who has been hired to manage the drilling. Loehr, who has 40 years of experience, said oil drillers are beginning to investigate the Precambrian formation in other countries.
• "I think it has possibilities, and I'm looking forward to drilling," Loehr said.
• Mike Lees, who regulates oil and gas for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said he estimates it will cost Quartz Operations about $3 million to drill each well.
• The department recommended that the company post $130,000 surety bonds for each well to make sure the wells are plugged and the land around the drilling sites is restored after the wells are drilled, he said.
• Deputy Attorney Roxanne Giedd said oil and gas drilling permits are normally issued by the department secretary, but the issue was referred to the board because department staff wanted the company to post larger surety bonds than are usual in drilling cases.
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Bankers say farm income helping rural economy
• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Bankers in 10 Midwest and Plains states expect the rural economy to continue growing in the months ahead because of the strength of farm income.
• The overall economic index on the March Rural Mainstreet survey remained at a healthy level of 56.9 even though it was down from February's 58.2.
• Any score above 50 on the index, which ranges from 0 to 100, suggests growth in the months ahead. Scores below 50 suggest contraction.
• Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the report. He says the survey suggests farmland values will continue to grow and home sales are beginning to grow.
• The index is based on a survey of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
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NASA, USGS release first Landsat 8 images
• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey have released the first images from a new land imaging satellite launched last month after completing system tests.
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