Interior Department’s watchdog secures over $60 million in settlements for oil and gas royalty underpayments.

The Interior Department’s internal watchdog, Mark Lee Greenblatt, has reported several successful settlements totalling more than $60 million for underpayment of oil and gas royalties. The most recent semiannual report covered the period between Oct. 1, 2023, and March 31 of this year. Greenblat highlighted the work of his office’s energy investigations unit, which led to a $34.6 million settlement for oil and natural gas royalty underpayment and an additional $10 million payment to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue. A second case led to an $16 million settlement. These recoveries illustrate the financial results of these investigations.