Panel to review MMS mineral leasing program

Offshore staff

WASHINGTON -- The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, Stephen Allred, has formed an independent panel to review and to advise the department on aspects of mineral revenue collection from Federal and Indian lands.

According to the MMS, the new panel will operate under the auspices of the Royalty Policy Committee, an independent advisory board appointed by the Interior Secretary to advise the MMS on royalty management issues and other mineral-related policies.

"Recently there has been much interest regarding the accuracy and effectiveness of the Minerals Revenue Management program within the MMS," said Allred in a letter to incoming Royalty Policy Committee chairman, Daniel Riemer. "We have decided that a review of the procedures and processes surrounding management of mineral revenue at the Department of Interior is in order."

The subcommittee will conduct its review over a six-month period and then it will provide its findings and recommendations to the Royalty Policy Committee and the Secretary of the Interior.

11/15/06