MMS AWARDS LA $135K (205 AGRMNT) (#30047)

FOR RELEASE:   October 7, 1993              CONTACT:  Tom DeRocco
                                                   (202) 208-3983
                                                            or
                                               Michael L. Baugher
                                                   (303) 231-3162

          MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE AWARDS LOUISIANA
           $135,000 FOR STATE'S ASSISTANCE WITH AUDITS (#30047)

     The Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service
(MMS) today announced that it will award the State of Louisiana
$135,000 in Fiscal Year 1994 to fund state audits of mineral
leases on federal public lands within its boundaries.

     "The award provided funds for a work plan agreed to under
Section 205 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act
(FOGRMA) of 1982," according to MMS Director Tom Fry.  Under the
agreement, State officials perform audits and other related
reviews on federal oil, gas and other solid mineral leases
located in Louisiana.

     The MMS's Cooperative and Delegated Audit Program enables
participating states to supplement MMS's audit coverage of
revenues from leases within state.  MMS reimburses states for the
costs of audits, such as salaries and travel expenses.  Other
participants include California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico,
North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

     Four Indian tribes--the Navajo Nation, the Ute, the Southern
Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute--are similarly reimbursed for audit
work on their respective tribal lands under Section 202 of
FOGRMA.

     "More than $4 million in auditing assistance was reimbursed
to states last year," Fry said.  "Sharing resources and
information in our working partnership has increased our auditing
coverage and effectiveness.  I am pleased that this cooperation
continues," he added.

     Through its Royalty Management Program the MMS collects,
accounts for, and disburses about $4 billion in revenues
associated with federal and Indian mineral leases each year.
                            -MMS-RMP-