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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has named an oil and gas expert to direct the Minerals Management Service.

Johnnie Burton is currently the revenue director for the state of Wyoming and has extensive experience in the minerals industry. She is expected to leave the post and join Norton on March 15, according to the Associated Press.

MMS is responsible for overseeing the collection, accounting and disbursement of mineral royalties from federal and Indian lands. MMS is involved in trust reform efforts and operates a key computer system that distributes royalties to American Indian beneficiaries.

The system still remains off-line per a federal judge's order. As a result, oil and gas funds haven't been sent to Indian landowners since November.

Get the Story:
State official gets federal minerals post (AP 2/8)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Audit finds more security holes (2/8)
Norton ordered to testify (2/8)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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