Fees can include testing. Env. And geo consulting include boring fees typ in their fees. We know they have active permits and work just from the winnemucca(sp) area. Drilling can be $100 and much more per foot of testing. Not including the bits which are significant. Testing alone and or paying for prior testing can cost in the millions.
I work with geo and env consultants so on large projects and even more than one project can easily eat into the millions.