The Interior Department won't pursue a claim for millions in royalties from energy giant Chevron, The New York Times reports.

The Minerals Management Service had ordered Chevron to pay $6 million for underpaid royalties. But agency officials dropped a claim for millions more, citing an adverse ruling from an Interior appeals board.

State governments, however, have gone ahead and pursued similar claims. They have recovered $70 million in additional royalties from companies like Chevron.

Interior doesn't appear to be interested, lawyers involved the cases say. That could cost taxpayers billions of dollars in royalties from oil and gas drilling on public land.

Get the Story:
U.S. Drops Bid Over Royalties From Chevron (The New York Times 10/31)
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