Document:

Exhibit 10.1

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

This Consulting Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of this
1st day of February, 2008, by and between American Soil Technologies, Inc., a
Nevada corporation, (the "Company") and BSW & Associates, located at 2020 Main
Street, Suite 500, Irvine CA 92614 (the "Consultant") (individually, a "Party";
collectively, the "Parties").

                                    RECITALS

WHEREAS, Consultant has certain financial consulting experience; and

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to engage the services of Consultant to assist the
Company in its financial reports.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, the
Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. CONSULTING SERVICES.

Consultant agrees assist the Company in preparing it financial statements for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, as well as to assist the Company in
its responses to a pending comment letter received from the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") (the "Consulting Services"). Consultant hereby
agrees to perform the Consulting Services in a workmanlike manner.

2. TERM OF AGREEMENT.

This Agreement shall be in full force and effect commencing upon the date
hereof. This Agreement shall terminate upon the Consultant's full completion of
the Consulting Services. Either Party hereto shall have the right to terminate
this Agreement without notice in the event of the death, bankruptcy, insolvency,
or assignment for the benefit of creditors of the other Party. Consultant shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement if Company fails to comply with the
terms of this Agreement, including without limitation its responsibilities for
compensation as set forth in this Agreement, and such failure continues
unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Company by
Consultant. The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon
delivery to Consultant of notice setting forth with specificity facts comprising
a material breach of this Agreement by Consultant if such breach shall remain
uncured for more than 30 days.
<PAGE>
3. TIME DEVOTED BY CONSULTANT.

It is anticipated that the Consultant shall spend as much time as deemed
necessary by the Consultant in order to perform the obligations of Consultant
hereunder. The Company understands that this amount of time may vary and that
the Consultant may perform Consulting Services for other companies.

4. PLACE WHERE CONSULTING SERVICES WILL BE PERFORMED.

The Consultant will perform most Consulting Services in accordance with this
Agreement at Consultant's offices. In addition, the Consultant will perform
Consulting Services on the telephone and at such other place(s) as necessary to
perform these Consulting Services in accordance with this Agreement.

5. COMPENSATION TO CONSULTANT.

As compensation for the Consulting Services, and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, Company will, upon entering into this Agreement,
authorize the issuance and delivery of 175,000 shares of the Company's common
stock (the "Compensation Shares") to Brian Weiss, an individual designated by
Consultant to perform the Consulting Services. As soon as reasonably practicable
after the full execution of this Agreement, Company agrees to file one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-8 with the SEC registering the Compensation
Shares to permit the public sale by the Consultant, and will use its reasonable
best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of this Registration Statement for so
long as an effective Registration Statement is required for the public sale by
the Consultant of the Compensation Shares.

6. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

Both Company and the Consultant agree that the Consultant will act as an
independent contractor in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to imply that Consultant,
or any employee, agent or other authorized representative of Consultant, is a
partner, joint venturer, agent, officer or employee of Company unless such
status shall be agreed upon and set forth in a writing signed by the parties.

7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

The Consultant and the Company acknowledge that each will have access to
proprietary information regarding the business operations of the other and agree
to keep all such information secret and confidential and not to use or disclose
any such information to any individual or organization without the
non-disclosing Party's prior written consent. Further, Consultant acknowledges
that it will have access to proprietary information regarding the business
operations of certain clients of the Company and agrees to keep all such
information secret and confidential and not to use or disclose any such
information to any individual or organization without the Company's prior
written consent.

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<PAGE>
8. INDEMNIFICATION.

Each Party (the "Indemnifying Party") agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold
harmless the other Party (the "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all
claims, damages, and liabilities, including any and all expense and costs, legal
or otherwise, caused by the negligent act or omission of the Indemnifying Party,
its subcontractors, agents, or employees, incurred by the Indemnified Party in
the investigation and defense of any claim, demand, or action arising out of the
work performed under this Agreement; including breach of the Indemnifying Party
of this Agreement. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any claims,
damages, or liabilities caused by the sole negligence of the Indemnified Party,
its subcontractors, agents, or employees.

The Indemnified Party shall notify promptly the Indemnifying Party of the
existence of any claim, demand, or other matter to which the Indemnifying
Party's indemnification obligations would apply, and shall give them a
reasonable opportunity to settle or defend the same at their own expense and
with counsel of their own selection, provided that the Indemnified Party shall
at all times also have the right to fully participate in the defense. If the
Indemnifying Party, within a reasonable time after this notice, fails to take
appropriate steps to settle or defend the claim, demand, or the matter, the
Indemnified Party shall, upon written notice, have the right, but not the
obligation, to undertake such settlement or defense and to compromise or settle
the claim, demand, or other matter on behalf, for the account, and at the risk,
of the Indemnifying Party.

The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Article shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, and heirs of the
Parties.

9. MISCELLANEOUS.

(A) The Parties submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the County of
Orange, State of California or, if there be subject matter jurisdiction, a
Federal Court empaneled in the State of California for the resolution of all
legal disputes arising under the terms of this Agreement. This provision shall
survive the termination of this Agreement.

(B) If either Party to this Agreement brings an action on this Agreement, the
prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable expenses therefore, including,
but not limited to, attorneys' fees and expenses and court costs.

(C) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto, their
administrators and successors in interest. This Agreement shall not be
assignable by either Party hereto without the prior written consent of the
other.

(D) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Parties and
supersedes all prior agreements between them.

(E) This Agreement shall be constructed and interpreted in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of California.

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<PAGE>
(F) No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding
unless executed in writing by the Parties. No waiver of any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be deemed, or shall constitute, a waiver of any other
provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing
waiver. No waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Party
making the waiver.

(G) If any provision hereof is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable
under present or future laws effective during the term hereof, such provision
shall be fully severable. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if
such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part
hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and
effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provision or by its severance herefrom.

(H) The above recitals are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have placed their signatures hereon on
the day and year first above written.

COMPANY:                                      CONSULTANT:

AMERICAN SOIL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,             BSW & ASSOCIATES,
a Nevada corporation

By: /s/ Carl P. Ranno                         By: /s/  Brian Weiss
   ------------------------------                 ------------------------------
Its: President                                Its: Managing Director

                                       4Exhibit 10.1

CH ENERGY GROUP, INC

SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.         Purpose. The purpose of this Short-Term Incentive Plan (this “STI Plan”) is to reward designated executives of CH Energy Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries for the achievement of each year’s business plan objectives and individual performance goals in a manner consistent with the Company’s strategy of achieving long-term shareholder value. 

 

2.         Definitions. The following capitalized words as used in this STI Plan shall have the following meanings:

 

 “Award Opportunity” means a cash award opportunity established under the STI Plan for a Participant by the Committee pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, as the Committee may establish.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

	
             
 	
            “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.  
 

 

“Company” has the meaning given such term in Section 1 of this STI Plan. 

 

“Employee” means any person employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries, whether such Employee is so employed at the time the STI Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of the STI Plan.

 

“Participant” means, as to any Performance Period, any Employee who is selected by the Committee to be eligible to participate in the STI Plan for that Performance Period, as provided herein.

 

“Payout Formula” means the formula established by the Committee for determining Award Opportunities for a Performance Period based on the level of achievement of the Performance Objectives for the Performance Period.   

 

“Performance Objectives” means the measurable or subjective performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this STI Plan for Participants who have received Award Opportunities. Performance Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or of a Subsidiary, division, business unit, department, region or function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Participant is employed. The Performance Objectives may be made relative to the performance of other corporations or entities.

 

 

 

“Performance Period” means the Company’s fiscal year or such other period as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

“STI Plan” means this CH Energy Group, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than 50 percent of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture or unincorporated association), but more than 50 percent of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company. 

 

3.         Administration. The Committee shall be responsible for administration of the STI Plan. The Committee, by majority action, is authorized to interpret the STI Plan, to prescribe, amend, and rescind regulations relating to the STI Plan, to provide for conditions and assurances deemed necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the STI Plan, but only to the extent not contrary to the express provisions of the STI Plan. Determinations, interpretations, or other actions made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the STI Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all Participants. No member of the
Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith. The Board (acting solely by the independent directors as identified under the applicable exchange listing standards) may perform any function of the Committee hereunder, in which case the term “Committee” shall refer to the Board.

 

4.          Eligibility. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine which Employees will be eligible to participate in the STI Plan for any given Performance Period. When making this determination, the Committee shall consider the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. Eligible Participants shall be designated by the Committee either before or within 90 days following the beginning of the Performance Period. An Employee who is a Participant for a given Performance Period is neither guaranteed nor assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Performance Period.

 

	
             
 	
            5.
 	
            Award Opportunities  
 

 

a.         No later than the first 90 days following the beginning of each Performance Period, the Committee shall establish the Award Opportunity for each Participant, including the applicable Performance Objectives and Payout Formula. Each Performance Objective will be weighted by the Committee to reflect its relative importance to the Company in the applicable Performance Period. The Payout Formulas, Performance Objectives and weighting of the Performance Objectives need not be uniform with respect to any or all Participants. The Committee shall consider the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer in determining the applicable Payout Formulas, Performance Objectives or weighting of the Performance 

 

 

Objectives with respect to Participants other than the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee may also establish Award Opportunities for newly hired or newly promoted employees without compliance with such timing and other limitations as provided herein, which Award Opportunities may be based on performance during less than the full Performance Period and may be pro rated in the discretion of the Committee.

 

b.         Participants must achieve the Performance Objectives established by the Committee in order to receive payment of an Award Opportunity under the STI Plan. However, the Committee may determine that only a threshold level relating to a Performance Objective must be achieved for Award Opportunities to be paid under the STI Plan. Similarly, the Committee may establish a minimum threshold performance level, a maximum performance level, and one or more intermediate performance levels or ranges, with target award levels or ranges that will correspond to the respective performance levels or ranges included in the Payout Formula.

 

c.         The Committee may in its sole discretion modify the Payout Formulas, Performance Objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable (i) to reflect a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company or its Subsidiaries, the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances or (ii) in the event that a Participant’s responsibilities materially change during a Performance Period or the Participant is transferred to a position that is not designated or eligible to participate in the STI Plan. 

 

6.          Determination of Award Opportunities.  Within the first 60 days following the end of each Performance Period, the Committee shall determine in writing whether and to what extent the Performance Objectives with respect to each Participant for the applicable Performance Period have been achieved and, if such Performance Objectives have been achieved, to approve actual payment of each Award Opportunity under the STI Plan pursuant to the applicable Payout Formulas. The Committee shall consider the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer when determining whether the Performance Objectives have been achieved with respect to Participants other than the Chief Executive Officer. In the event a Participant terminates employment with the Company and its
Subsidiaries for any reason prior to the last day of the Performance Period, the Participant shall not be entitled to payment of an Award Opportunity with respect to that Performance Period; provided that in the case of termination of employment by reason of  death, disability or normal or early retirement, or in the case of other special circumstances, the Committee may, in it sole discretion, pay all or any portion of the Award Opportunity to the Participant (or to the Participant’s estate in the event of his or her death) as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable. 

 

7.          Payment of Award Opportunities. If earned, an Award Opportunity of a Participant for a particular Performance Period shall be paid in cash after the end of the Performance Period, but in no event later than two-and-one-half months after the end of the Performance Period.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may elect to defer receipt of payment of an Award Opportunity in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Directors and Executives Deferred Compensation Plan (or any successor plan).

 

 

 

8.         Tax Withholding. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to deduct from all payments made to any person under the STI Plan any federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes which, in the opinion of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are required to be withheld with respect to such payments.

 

9.           No Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this STI Plan shall confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries, nor limit or affect in any manner the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or adjust the compensation of a Participant. For purposes of the STI Plan, the transfer of employment of a Participant between the Company and any one of its Subsidiaries (or between Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed a termination of the Participant’s employment. 

 

10.         Transferability. No right or benefit under this STI Plan will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge such right or benefit will be void. No such right or benefit will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, liabilities, or torts of a Participant.

 

11.         Successors. All obligations of the Company under the STI Plan shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. 

 

12.         Governing Law. The STI Plan and all Award Opportunities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, but without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

 

13.         Amendment or Termination. The Board reserves the right, at any time, to amend, suspend or terminate the STI Plan, in whole or in part, in any manner, and for any reason, and without the consent of any Participant, Eligible Employee or other person; provided, that no such amendment, suspension or termination shall adversely affect the payment of any amount for a Performance Period ending prior to the action of the Board amending, suspending or terminating the STI Plan.

 

14.         Participation by Employees of Subsidiaries. Any Subsidiary may, by action of its board of directors or equivalent governing body and with the consent of the Board, adopt the STI Plan; provided that the Board may waive the requirement that such board of directors or equivalent governing body effect such adoption. By its adoption of or participation in the STI Plan, the adopting Subsidiary shall be deemed to appoint the Company its exclusive agent to exercise on its behalf all of the power and authority conferred by the STI Plan upon the Company and accept the delegation to the Committee of all the power and authority conferred upon it by the STI Plan. The authority of the Company to act as such agent shall continue until the STI Plan is terminated as to the
participating Subsidiary. An Award Opportunity of a Participant employed by a participating Subsidiary shall be paid in accordance with the STI Plan solely by that Subsidiary, unless the Board otherwise determines that the Company shall be 

 

 

responsible for payment.  Each Award Opportunity that may become payable under the STI Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company or the Subsidiary responsible for payment thereof. Nothing in this STI Plan shall be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any Participant’s claim of any right to payment of an Award Opportunity other than as an unsecured general creditor with respect to any payment to which he or she may be entitled. 

 

[END OF DOCUMENT]

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