17 Feb Gunnison Energy and SG Interests Fined for Colluding on Lease Bids

The two drilling companies operating in the Bull Mountain/McClure Pass area –

Two Gunnison County drillers pay $550,000 to settle federal antitrust lawsuit

Gunnison Energy and SG Interests will pay $275.000 each in a settlement reached with the Department of Justice for colluding on bidding for BLM oil and gas leases.  The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust complaint when it was discovered that the two companies had a written agreement that only SG Interests would bid on leases and then split the leases with Gunnison Energy.  By agreeing to not competitively bid on leases, the two companies bilked taxpayers from monies potentially generated from selling mineral leases.