The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) distributed more than $391 million to 35 states during the first nine months of 1999.

    The money represents the states' cumulative share of revenues collected for mineral production on federal lands located within their borders and from federal offshore oil and gas tracts adjacent to their shores.

    The MMS is responsible for collecting, accounting for, auditing and disbursing revenues associated with mineral leases on federal and Indian lands. Disbursements are made to states on a monthly basis, after bonuses, rents, royalties and other revenues are collected.

    A state is entitled to a share of the mineral revenues collected from federal lands located within that state’s boundaries. For the majority of federal lands, 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.

    Certain coastal states with federal offshore 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 and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Alabama $8,962,672.19        Michigan $282,707.74             Oregon            $28,266.17

Alaska    $3,127,668.35         Minnesota $12,263.98             Pennsylvania    $17,168.15

Arizona   $63,590.26                 Mississippi $588,405.42            South Dakota    $202,500.78

Arkansas $635,441.47        Missouri   $755,080.11             Tennessee     $7.45

California $9,523,297.78        Montana   $13,123,914.12     Texas             $6,390,375.51

Colorado   $28,365,030.11        Nebraska   $6,039.23              Utah             $21,705,297.00

Florida    $2,816.11                 Nevada   $1,600,243.04              Virginia     $37,456.86

Idaho $1,533,894.00        New Mexico $101,671,738.90     Washington    $875,809.07

Illinois $77,886.24        North Carolina $126.46             West Virginia     $110,798.38

Kansas $585,055.59        North Dakota $1,793,781.95     Wisconsin     $45.02

Kentucky $33,740.21        Ohio             $89,460.54             Wyoming      $182,301,975.91