Former Interior secretary Gale Norton won't face charges in a corruption investigation, the Interior Department Inspector General said in a new report.

Federal authorities investigated Norton's role in the awarding of shale oil leases to Royal Dutch Shell PLC. Norton went to work for Shell after leaving the Bush administration.

The Inspector General said it appeared that Shell was given preferential treatment during Norton's tenure. And she failed to "fully describe" her dealings with the leasing program when interviewed by investigators, according to the report.

However, the Department of Justice declined to bring charges, the report said.

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Former Interior Secretary Norton cleared in ethics probe (AP 12/11)

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