The House Committee on Government Reform has scheduled two days of hearings with a provoking title: "Interior Department: A Culture of Managerial Irresponsibility and Lack of Accountability?"

The panel's Subcommittee on Energy and Resources has been investigating oil and gas leases that will cost the taxpayers up to $10 billion in lost royalties. The deals, signed during the Clinton administration, give the energy industry a major break for drilling on federal land.

On Wednesday, Interior Inspector General Earl Devaney will be the sole witness. According to The New York Times, he has uncovered evidence that the Bush administration signed a new batch of leases that could cost billions more in lost royalties.

The hearing concludes on Thursday with testimony from P. Lynn Scarlett, the deputy Interior secretary, and Johnnie Burton, the director of the Minerals Management Service, which is responsible for collecting oil and gas royalties from federal and Indian lands.

Get the Story:
Chevron Could Avoid Huge Royalties on New Field (The New York Times 9/12)
pwnyt
Press Release: Issa to Conclude Royalty Investigation with Interior IG Testimony on Missing Price Thresholds (House Committee on Government Reform 9/11)

Related Stories:
DOI accused of hindering probe into oil and gas royalties (08/04)
Accounting firm defends social relations with OST (7/27)
OST contract tied to favors to top officials (7/25)
OST officials awarded $6.6M contract to friends (7/24)
Tribes, states weigh lawsuits against oil companies (5/8)
Norton denies fraud or major problem with trust (3/29)
GAO report warns of billions in lost oil, gas royalties (3/29)
Tribes, states object to Interior's lack of audits (03/01)
Pombo starts investigation of DOI royalty program (2/16)
Bush, Democrats oppose $7B royalty giveaway (2/15)
Interior to give away $7B in oil and gas royalties (2/14)
Oil companies fall behind on royalty payments (2/10)
DOI allows underpayment of natural gas royalties (01/24)
Editorial: Interior's endless charade on Indian trust (06/10)
OST fares no better under Ross Swimmer's leadership (6/7)
Bush administration won't give up fight on Cobell (03/18)
McCain weighs GAO probe of Indian trust debacle (03/10)
Norton won't testify on trust fund retaliation (2/28)
Lamberth takes action on Cobell trust lawsuit (2/24)
Bush official won't accept claims of trust mismanagement (02/17)
Swimmer admits some Navajo appraisals too low (12/13)
DOI was warned on appraisals of Navajo lands (12/6)
Lamberth critical of Norton's 'bad faith' on trust fund (10/25)
Interior denies attempt to halt trust fund payments (10/05)
Bush administration challenges trust fund ruling (09/16)
Appeals court takes on Cobell trust fund case (9/15)
Bush administration calls for end to Cobell case (04/09)
Trust fund special master alleges government fraud (04/07)
Cobell trust fund suit mediators announced (4/6)
Navajo landowners question BIA agreement with company (10/21)
Retaliation alleged in firing of trust fund manager (09/18)
Court report finds undervaluation of Navajo lands (08/21)
Navajo trust fund manager targeted in internal probe (07/15)
DOI employees falsified Navajo trust data (06/11)
Navajo leaders criticize upheaval at trust fund office (05/09)