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Cobell master denied access to trust records
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
The special master in the Indian trust fund case released a report on Monday detailing a visit to the Minerals Management Service that was cut short by government attorneys.
Alan Balaran was examining audit records of Indian account holders kept at a location in Dallas, Texas. He was there for about two hours, he said, until he was instructed to leave the premises.
He later discovered that a Department of Justice lawyer left him a telephone message objecting to his presence.
During his short visit, Balaran said he saw "chaotic document management" and an industrial shredder. Had he stayed longer, he said he would have investigated further.
MMS is responsible for the collection of about $6 billion in oil and gas royalties on federal and Indian land.
Get the Report:
SITE VISIT REPORT OF THE SPECIAL MASTER
TO THE DALLAS, TEXAS OFFICE OF THE MINERALS REVENUE MANAGEMENT
DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR’S MINERALS MANAGEMENT
SERVICE
(September 29, 2003)
Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton -
http://www.indiantrust.com
Minerals Management Service -
http://www.mms.gov
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