FUNDING...INDIAN MNRLS COOP PROGRAM(#30046)

FOR RELEASE:  October 7, 1993               CONTACT:  Tom DeRocco
                                                   (202) 208-3983
                                                            or
                                               Michael L. Baugher
                                                   (303) 231-3162

          MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE ANNOUNCES FUNDING
          FOR INDIAN MINERALS COOPERATIVE AUDIT PROGRAM(#30046)

     The Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service
today announced that it will pay $965,771 to four Indian tribes
as reimbursement of auditing costs for participating in the MMS's
Cooperative and Delegated Audit Program during Fiscal Year 1994.

     Recipient participants include the Navajo Nation ($550,000),
the Ute ($156,000), the Southern Ute ($194,771) and the Ute
Mountain Ute ($65,000).

     The program enables a tribe to join with MMS in providing
additional audit coverage of revenues derived from oil, gas and
other mineral leases located on its land.

     "More than $150 million in mineral revenues were collected
from Indian leases last year," said MMS Director Tom Fry. 
"Sharing resources and information in our working partnership,
has increased our auditing coverage and effectiveness.  I am
pleased that this cooperation continues," he added.

     Under provisions of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty
Management Act of 1982, the MMS reimburses participating Indian
tribes for costs of delegated audits, such as salaries and travel
expenses.

     Ten states--California, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New
Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming--
participate under similar provisions.

     The MMS is responsible for the collection, accounting for
and disbursement of nearly $4 billion annually in mineral
revenues from federal and Indian lands.

                            -MMS-RMP-