Alaska nets $4.1 million as state’s share of federal mineral revenues

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service has distributed $4,155,721.39 to the state of Alaska during 1999, the agency said Jan. 27.

MMS disperses the money as part of the states’ cumulative share of minerals revenues collected for mineral production on federal public lands located within the states’ boundaries, and from federal offshore tracts adjacent to their shores.

Alaska’s $4.1 million, $245,935.44 of which came from offshore tracts, represents the state’s share of bonuses, rents and royalties.

A total of $541,413,254.87 was distributed to 36 states in 1999 as their share of revenues collected by MMS. Wyoming received the most at $239.8 million, followed by New Mexico at $148.6 million, Colorado at $38.1 million and Utah at $31.9 million.

In addition to this continuing share of revenues, Alaska was paid $13.4 million by the federal government as part of its 8(g) tracts settlement in April 1999, the 13th installment in a series of 15 annual payments based on settlement legislation for 1978-1986 revenues from OCS leases.