GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — An Australian coal company that wants to mine Powder River Basin coal has hired a Wyoming state lawmaker as an executive.

The Gillette News Record (http://bit.ly/rrhxjt ) reported that Republican Rep. David Miller of Riverton sold his Campbell County mineral rights to Sydney-based County Coal Limited for $200,000 in March. Miller, a geologist, now holds one million shares in the company and will get 3 percent royalty payments on coal mined in the basin, one of the richest coal sources in the United States.

Miller said he will recuse himself from any votes in the legislature that directly affect County Coal projects. He said votes on coal issues in general aren't as clear cut.

County Coal didn't respond to the newspaper's request for more information about its Powder River Basin plans.

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