NOTE 12 – CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

Standby Letters of Credit – A commercial bank issued standby letters of credit on behalf of the Company totaling $260,000 to state and federal agencies and $741,000 to an electric utility company. The standby letters of credit are valid until cancelled or matured and are collateralized by the Credit Facility. The terms of the letters of credit to the state and federal agencies are extended for a term of one year at a time. The Company intends to renew the standby letters of credit to the state and federal agencies for as long as the Company does business in the States of Texas  and New Mexico. The letters of credit to the utility company should not require renewal after the initial one-year term. No amounts have been drawn under the standby letters of credit.

Surety Bonds - An insurance company issued surety bonds on behalf of the Company totaling $500,438 to various State of New Mexico agencies in order for the Company to do business in the State of New Mexico. The surety bonds are valid until canceled or matured. The terms of the surety bonds are extended for a term of one year at a time. The Company intends to renew the surety bonds on $400,000 as long as the Company does business in the State of New Mexico. The remaining $100,438 should not require renewal after the initial one-year term.