Wyo. Board Set 4 Percent Uranium Royalty Rate

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The state Board of Land Commissioners has established a 4 percent royalty rate for new uranium leases.

Royalties paid last year on uranium production in Wyoming totaled only $3,300.

Currently, two companies are producing uranium in the state, and only one produces from a state lease.

The Office of Lands and Investments had been charging uranium producers a royalty rate of 2.5 to 3 percent until 2010 when a 5 percent rate was imposed.

Under the motion adopted Tuesday by the state Board of Land Commissioners, the office can change the royalty rate on uranium when the 10-year leases are renewed.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/wCrHcO ) that money from the royalties on production on state trust lands goes to support public schools.