EXHIBIT 10.18 United States Patent Application for Apparatus for Disposal of Refuse By Thermal Oxidation UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office Address: Box ISSUE FEE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS Washington, D.C. 20231 34MI/0626 ROBERT M. DOWNEY NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE 701 BRICKELL AVENUE SUITE 1480 AND ISSUE FEE DUE MIAMI FL 33131 Note attached communication from the Examiner This notice is issued in view of applicant's communication filed ______________ SERIES CODE/SERIAL NO: FILING DATE TOTAL CLAIMS EXAMINER AND GROUP ART UNIT DATE MAILED 18,364,785 12/27/94 011 TINKER, S 3404 06/26/96 First Named MANSUR, PIERRE G. Applicant TITLE OF APPARATUS FOR DISPOSING OF REFUSE BY THERMAL OXIDATION INVENTION (AS AMENDED) ATTY'S DOCKET NO. CLASS-SUBCLASS BATCH NO. APPLN. TYPE SMALL ENTITY FEE DUE DATE DUE MANSPA494 110-185.000 B57 UTILITY YES $625.00 09/26/96 THE APPLICATION IDENTIFIES ABOVE HAS BEEN EXAMINED AND IS ALLOWED FOR ISSUANCE AS A PATENT. PROSECUTION ON THE MERITS IS CLOSED. THE ISSUE FEE MUST BE PAID WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS NOTICE OR THIS APPLICATION SHALL BE REGARDED AS ABANDONED. THIS STATUTORY PERIOD CANNOT BE EXTENDED. HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE: Review the SMALL ENTITY Status shown above. If the SMALL ENTITY is shown as YES, verify your current SMALL ENTITY status: A. If the status is changed, pay twice the amount of the FEE DUE shown above and notify the patent and Trademark Office of the change in status, or B. If the Status is the same, pay the FEE DUE shown above. If the SMALL ENTITY is shown as NO: A. Pay FEE DUE shown above, or B. File verified statement of Small Entity Status before, or with, pay of 1/2 the FEE DUE shown above. I. Part B of this notice should be completed and returned to the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) with your ISSUE FEE. Even if the ISSUE FEE has already been paid by charge to deposit account, Part B should be completed and returned. If you are charging the ISSUE FEE to your deposit account, Part C of this notice should also be completed and returned. II. All communications regarding this application must give series code (or filing date), serial number and batch number. Please direct all communication prior to all issuance to Box ISSUE FEE unless advised to contrary. IMPORTANT REMINDER: Patents issuing on applications filed on or after Dec. 12, 1980 may require payment of maintenance fees. It is patentee's responsibility to ensure timely payment of maintenance fees when due.