Wyoming Supreme Court Weighs Competing Mineral Rights

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Supreme Court says a contested case between a coal company and an oil and gas firm should be resolved in federal court.

Peabody Energy and Berenergy each argue that they have superior rights to mine coal and drill for oil and gas on the same land where their federal leases essentially overlap.

Justice Michael K. Davis, who wrote the state Supreme Court's decision, said state courts were not the proper forum to argue and decide the conflict of federal leases.

Still, the Supreme court has remanded the case back to the lower court to figure out if the federal government can become involved in the state suit. If not, Davis says the state case must be dismissed.