Secretary Salazar Statement on Supreme Court's Decision Not to Hear Oil Royalties Case

WASHINGTON, DC - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision today not to hear Department of the Interior v. Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corp:

“The oil and gas leases in question are leases that were issued between 1996 and 2000. The Department under the Clinton and Bush Administrations took the position that once the price of oil and gas reaches a certain level oil and gas royalties should be collected under these deep water oil and gas. In my view, they were correct".

“We will work with all involved in the days ahead to determine the best way forward.”