House

Senate and House lawmakers last week voted out a $15-billionemergency funding measure that, among other things, will give somelong-sought relief to domestic natural gas and oil producers. Thebill is expected to be signed by President Clinton.

The Colorado Senate last week approved and sent on to the Housea bill to deregulate retail gas distribution in the state. Thebill’s sponsor, Sen. David Owen, R-Greeley, said he expects thelegislation (SB 99-153) to pass this year.

The House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Thursdayapproved royalty-in-kind legislation (H.R. 3334) to require thefederal government to take the actual oil or natural gas product asits royalty payment instead of cash for production offshore and onfederal lands. The bill, opposed by the Interior Department’sMinerals Management Service (MMS), included an amendment whichwould allow the government to receive cash for production fromlow-volume producing wells in remote locations.

A House bill proposing a nationwide royalty in-kind (RIK) schemefor collecting royalties on oil and natural gas produced on federallands would result in a net revenue loss of $141 million to $367million to the federal government during the first 8 1/2 years ofits implementation.