UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
March 15, 2011; February 16, 2011
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HIGH PLAINS GAS, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada 333-125068 26-3633813
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
3601 Southern Drive, Gillette, Wyoming 82718
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (307) 686-5030
Northern Explorations, Ltd.
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(Former name and former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF CERTAIN OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS;
APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
On February 16, 2011, the Board of Directors of High Plains Gas, Inc. (the
"Company") appointed Brent M. Cook as Chief Executive Officer. Mark D.
Hettinger was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Board of
Directors.
Prior to joining High Plains Gas, Inc., Mr. Cook served as CEO and a member of
the Board of Directors of Current Energy Partners Corporation, a privately held
Delaware Corporation. Current was the acquiring entity of CEP-M Purchase, LLC
until it sold its interest for common stock in High Plains Gas, Inc. Previous
to Current Energy, Mr. Cook served from October 2004 until August 2009 as a
director of Raser Technologies Inc., a publicly traded energy technology company
listed on the NYSE ("Raser" NYSE:RZ), and as Raser's Chief Executive Officer
from January 2005 until August 2009. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Cook served in
various positions at Headwaters Inc. (NYSE: HW), a large publicly-traded energy
technology company, including Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman
of the Board of Directors. Prior to his joining Headwaters Inc., Mr. Cook was
Director of Strategic Accounts, Utah Operations, at PacifiCorp, which operates
as a local electric utility in seven western states. Mr. Cook spent 12 years at
PacifiCorp with specific expertise in transmission interconnection and power
sales agreements. Mr. Cook was also employed from 2002-2005 by AMP Resources, a
geothermal power generation company that later sold their projects to ENEL, an
Italian power generation company.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
HIGH PLAINS GAS, INC.
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Date: March 15, 2011 By: \s\Brent M. Cook
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Name: Brent M. Cook
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Principal Executive Officer
Date: March 15, 2011 By: \s\Joe Hettinger
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Name: Joe Hettinger
Title: CFO and Director
Principal Financial Officer