By Emily Finnegan
WSILTV.COM
Story Created: Dec 21, 2011 CST
SALINE COUNTY -- A plan to look for natural gas and oil in Saline County received a major boost Wednesday.
A Saline County judge granted Colorado-based Next Energy the right to lease mineral rights from more than a thousand people without their permission. The energy company sued for the rights after it couldn't track down the owners.
About twenty people were on hand for the conservatorship hearing Wednesday; most came with questions.
"The explanation of how that occurs is what I was really concerned about today," said mineral owner David Nave.
"See what they have to say and voice my opinions and listen to everyone else hearing their questions and I can bring my questions up," Richard Chrisman told News Three.
But some people knew exactly what they wanted--to get their names off Next Energy's list.
The company had to prove to a judge it tried to locate the 1500 people named in the suit, or their heirs. Public notices led Next Energy to about about 100 of them. Nave came to court to let the company know he and his family are open to making a deal.
"Now that I'm fully aware of what's going on. I've already started the process of getting information about those heirs," he said.
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