Problems associated with the Department of the Interior's distribution of oil and gas royalty payments to Indians. Hearing before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-Ninth Congress, First Session, April 8, 1985

Book · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6413026

Indian mineral owners, their legal counsel, and Department of Interior (DOI) spokesmen testified at a hearing held in response to complaints that royalty payments of oil and gas holdings have been late and inaccurate. The hearing was held in Oklahoma, which accounts for 48% of Indian lease holdings. Its purpose was to see if any progress has been made since the issue first arose. Part of the problem is the complexity of DOI's payment procedure, which involves three agencies within the Department, and which presents numerous opportunities for delay and error. Earlier studies found that the federal system for accounting for royalty and other payments from Indian lands were out of date. DOI officials conceded that more work needs to be done, but pointed to some progress and efforts to improve communications with Indians receiving royalty payments. Supporting documentation and additional statements, correspondence, and material submitted for the record follows the testimony of 13 witnesses.

• OSTI ID: 6413026
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
021000* -- Petroleum-- Legislation & Regulations
03 NATURAL GAS
031000 -- Natural Gas-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
294000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
ACCOUNTING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
AMERICAN INDIANS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ERRORS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HEARINGS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INCOME
INDIAN RESERVATIONS
INFORMATION NEEDS
LEASES
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINORITY GROUPS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POPULATIONS
RESOURCES
ROYALTIES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS