But the state School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) - in its attempts to maximize profits for the permanent education fund - has sold mineral leases beneath the Carbon County camp.

An Australian energy-exploration firm is now drilling for natural gas within 100 yards of playing fields at the student camp.

Boyd McAffee, the camp's director, said the drilling operation poses a number of hazards, including trucks driving past at all hours, toxic spills and air pollutants - let alone the rig itself, which piques the curiosity of young adventure-seekers.

And then there's the noise from the operation that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"How in the world can our state see that we are a school-run program to teach kids to appreciate the outdoors and then thumb their nose at us?" McAffee asked. "It blows us away that they have the power to come in here at a site that's set aside for kids."

LaVonne Garrison, SITLA's assistant director for oil and gas, said the agency originally let the mineral lease under the land south of Scofield Reservoir in the 1940s or '50s. It passed from one private entity to another, until Marion Energy purchased the mineral rights.

"It's a valid and existing right," she explained.

Clear Creek Camp was purchased by the Alpine School District in the mid-1970s and functions as a year-round teaching facility for students from grades five through 12. Depending on the season, students study native plants and trees, collect rocks and learn about geology - and keep an eye out for deer and hawks, among other things. Outings range from three days to several weeks.

The school district purchased only the surface ground, however, and cannot legally keep mineral rights holders from drilling on the land.

Although SITLA must approve each transfer of such oil and gas rights, Garrison said it was up to Alpine administrators to negotiate an agreement with Marion Energy that allowed the exploration company to move forward in a manner palatable to the school district.

"We weren't involved in those negotiations," Garrison said. "Apparently, the surface owner doesn't like the agreement."

She conceded that Alpine administrators could have been over their heads when negotiating with the energy company.

Rob Smith, Alpine's assistant superintendent, said he was told by SITLA officials to work with Marion Energy, which makes its U.S. headquarters in McKinney, Texas.

"SITLA said, 'You have to let them in,' " Smith explained. "SITLA said, 'If you don't work with them, they can put up a bond and then do whatever they want.' "

The district believed it made the best agreement it could, he said. But Marion Energy has not lived up to its end of the bargain.

Telephone calls seeking comment from Marion Energy officials were not returned.

John Baza, the director of the state Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, agreed that Marion has committed infractions against the terms of its agreement with the school district.

"Granted, they've had problems and they are working toward improving them," he said. "We're doing our best to make sure that Marion complies with regulations, like any other operator in Utah."

Concerns by parents and camp workers that the gas well could explode are not well founded, Baza said.

"I've never seen an explosion at a well head, so the risk is small."

But that doesn't satisfy Keith Andersen, the camp's caretaker.

"Probably 'safe' is not good enough when you're talking about kids' lives," he said. "It's an evil thing."

And it's just plain "annoying," agreed Shallise Fage, an eighth-grader from Canyon View Junior High in Orem.

"There are kids here, and it's a pollution problem," she said.

"It's a big machine, and it could be dangerous. There should be a law."

csmart@sltrib.com

Clear Creek Outdoor Education Camp Director