Wyoming's senior U.S. senator says a pending bill would allow states to collect royalties directly from companies producing minerals from federal lands. Sen. Mike Enzi tells The Associated Press that he's working to line up co-sponsors to the bill he intends to introduce Thursday. The bill aims to restore about $110 million in federal payments to states. Wyoming is the nation's leading coal-producing state and stands to lose $53 million this year from the cuts. U.S. Interior Department officials say they have no choice but to implement the cuts because of the federal budget reduction law. By allowing states to collect royalties directly from producers, Enzi says the bill would not only protect the money from federal cuts, but allow states to avoid paying the current 2% federal administration fee.
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