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Oil, Gas Royalties Restored to 34 States

Department of Interior officials said Tuesday they won't withhold oil and gas royalty payments next year from 34 states, including Colorado, as part of the federal budget sequestration and will pay back funds captured in 2013.

Department of Interior officials said Tuesday they won't withhold oil and gas royalty payments next year from 34 states, including Colorado, as part of the federal budget sequestration and will pay back funds captured in 2013.

 
Colorado is owed $5.7 million as of July, Attorney General John Suthers said in a prepared statement.
 
Three weeks ago, Suthers and nine other state attorneys wrote to the administration demanding that mineral royalties be paid to states. They argued royalties are not a gift, handout or entitlement but instead are the result of a 1920 compromise compensating states for mining within their boundaries.
Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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