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Re:
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U.S. Energy Corp., Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2011
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1.
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We note your statement, “The KM Ranch #1H well… had an announced initial gross production rate of 418 BOE/D from 11 fracture stimulation stages.” The energy equivalency for oil and natural gas is six MCFG per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) from page 126. In order to avoid confusion concerning the energy and price equivalency of oil and natural gas, please expand your disclosure of production rates to include the figures for oil and for gas.
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Response:
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2.
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We note that you disclose your proved undeveloped (PUD) reserves as of the beginning and end of 2011 and indicate that some changes were due to the conversion of 79 MBOE to proved developed status. However, given that you had significant increases in PUD reserves, you should follow the guidance in Item 1203(b) of Regulation S-K which requires the disclosure of “…material changes in proved undeveloped reserves that occurred during the year, including proved undeveloped reserves converted into proved developed reserves.” Please revise your presentation to identify material changes of PUD reserves due to: revisions of previous estimates; improved recovery; acquisitions and divestures of properties; extensions and discoveries.
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Response:
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Proved Undeveloped Reserves
(BOE)
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January 1, 2011
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206,927
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Conversion to proved developed reserves
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(79,198)
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Revisions of previous quantity estimates
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(13,381)
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Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries
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952,112
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Sales of reserves in place
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(85,764)
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December 31, 2011
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980,696
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3.
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We note your statement “As of December 31, 2011, we have no proved undeveloped reserves that have been on the books in excess of five years…”. Please tell us whether you have PUD reserves that are scheduled for development beyond five years of booking. You may refer to FASB ASC Section 932-235-20 Glossary for the definition of proved undeveloped reserves.
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4.
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The guidance in Item 1204(a) of Regulation S-K requires separate disclosure of production for an area containing at least 15% of your proved reserves. As such, it appears that you should disclose the annual production at your Williston Basin area in each of the last three years.
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December 31,
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||||||
2011
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2010
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2009
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Williston Basin
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Oil (Bbls)
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271,939
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282,527
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64,485
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Natural gas (Mcf)
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129,635
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98,820
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12,750
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Natural gas liquids (Bbls)
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--
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--
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--
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BOE
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293,545
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298,997
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66,610
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Gulf Coast / South Texas
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||||||
Oil (Bbls)
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16,081
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20,906
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15,976
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Natural gas (Mcf)
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590,982
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659,085
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454,941
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Natural gas liquids (Bbls)
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19,325
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19,104
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5,987
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BOE
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133,903
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149,858
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97,787
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Eagle Ford
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||||||
Oil (Bbls)
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4,290
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--
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--
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Natural gas (Mcf)
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8,479
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--
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--
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Natural gas liquids (Bbls)
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--
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--
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--
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BOE
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5,703
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--
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--
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Austin Chalk
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Oil (Bbls)
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8,015
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--
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--
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Natural gas (Mcf)
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7,165
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--
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--
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Natural gas liquids (Bbls)
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--
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--
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--
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BOE
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9,209
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--
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--
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Total
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Oil (Bbls)
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300,325
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303,433
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80,461
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Natural gas (Mcf)
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736,261
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757,905
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467,691
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Natural gas liquids (Bbls)
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19,325
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19,104
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5,987
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BOE
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442,360
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448,855
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164,397
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5.
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We note that your table of leasehold acreage does not include details of acreage and lease expiration. Item 1208(b) of Regulation S-K requires the disclosure of material acreage which will expire in the near term, e.g. each of the next three years. Please expand your disclosure to comply with this requirement.
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Williston Basin,
North Dakota and Montana
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Southeast Texas and Louisiana
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Eagle Ford/Austin Chalk,
Texas
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San Joaquin Basin, California
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TOTAL
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||||||||||
Gross
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Net
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Gross
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Net
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Gross
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Net
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Gross
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Net
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Gross
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Net
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|||||
2012
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5,099
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866
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1,281
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173
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-
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-
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1,241
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496
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7,621
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1,535
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2013
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12,591
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4,788
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-
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-
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889
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445
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29
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9
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13,509
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5,242
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2014
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16,220
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11,094
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-
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-
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2,392
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1,009
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3,320
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1,122
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21,932
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13,225
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2015
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6,783
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3,227
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-
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-
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889
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445
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1,824
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534
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9,496
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4,206
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2016
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1,920
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770
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-
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-
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-
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-
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45
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17
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1,965
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787
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42,613
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20,745
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1,281
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173
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4,170
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1,899
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6,459
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2,178
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54,523
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24,995
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6.
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On page 3 of the third party reserve report the average adjusted natural gas price used for reserve estimates appears as $8.16/MCF while the benchmark price is $4.118/MMBTU. However, on page 33 of your Form 10-K you disclose that your 2011 average historic received price was $4.85/MCFG. Please explain to us the adjustments you made to arrive at the $8.16 price used in your estimates.
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·
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it is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing;
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·
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Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and
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·
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it may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Keith G. Larsen
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Keith G. Larsen
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Chief Executive Officer
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