The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) today announced that it distributed more than $559 million to 35 states in 1998. The money represents the states' cumulative share of revenues collected for mineral production on federal lands located onshore within their borders and from federal offshore oil and natural gas tracts adjacent to their shores.

    Amounts vary from year to year, according to production and market prices. In 1997, the states received a record $617 million, compared to $528 million in 1996.

    A state is entitled to a share of the mineral revenues collected from federal lands located onshore within that state’s boundaries. For the majority of federal leases, states and the federal government share the revenues: 50 percent to the state, 40 percent to the Reclamation Fund for water projects, and 10 percent to the U.S. Treasury. One exception, Alaska, gets a 90-percent share, as prescribed by the Alaska Statehood Act. The MMS is responsible for collecting, accounting for, auditing and disbursing the revenues.

    Of the $559 million, more than $39 million came from offshore federal leases. Certain coastal states with federal tracts adjacent to their seaward boundaries receive 27 percent of those mineral royalties as well. Remaining offshore revenues are deposited in special accounts of the U.S. Treasury, including the General Fund, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Historic Preservation Fund.

    Disbursements are made to states on a monthly basis, as bonuses, rents, royalties and other revenues are collected. Seven western states; Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, California and Texas received more than 90 percent of the revenues.

Alabama $13,410,678.52        Louisiana $11,424,608.76         Oklahoma $399,550.65

Alaska $5,463,996.70             Michigan $551,493.30                 Oregon $73,624.48

Arizona $145,566.13               Minnesota $12,367.46                 Pennsylvania $19,205.11

Arkansas $1,150,374.97        Mississippi $1,971,933.29           South Dakota $343,427.76

California $17,609,402.92      Missouri $923,797.48                   Texas $12,616,350.75

Colorado $40,813,458.95      Montana $18,501,553.87             Utah $33,242,057.99

Florida $3,024.74                    Nebraska $8,722.74                    Virginia $65,625.78

Georgia $107.32                      Nevada $4,192,183.60                Washington $557,365.59

Idaho $2,744,490.72               New Mexico $156,416,999.32    West Virginia $239,128.35

Illinois $61,176.64                   North Carolina $115.51                 Wisconsin $95.50

Kansas $1,190,866.17           North Dakota $2,975,203.51        Wyoming $231,829,091.70

Kentucky $83,946.71            Ohio $136,641.62                          Total $559,178,234.61