Mineral Owner's Organization Invited to Give Congressional Testimony

TULSA, Okla. - May 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Chairman John Fleming (R-LA) of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, Sub Committee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs has asked Tulsa based National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) to testify before the Committee on May 20, 2014 in Washington D.C.  The hearing will be conducted on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notice of proposed rulemaking on “Non-Federal oil and gas development within the National Wildlife System.”

“NARO submitted written comments on the proposed rulemaking on April 4as we are concerned about the right and abilityof those private minerals that underlie some of the refuges to be developed if the owners wanted that to happen.  We are also concerned that surface access across some refuges may be necessary to allow for private mineral property development. NARO will also address permitting, financial assurance and fee structure in its oral testimony,” said Jerry Simmons, NARO Executive Director.  “We want to be sure the rights of these private property owners are taken into consideration,” said Simmons

NARO was founded in 1980 as a non-profit support and education organization for mineral owners. Today NARO has 10 US Chapters, including Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New York “The Rockies” (consisting of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico), “Appalachia” (consisting of Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina), Pennsylvania, North Dakota and California are the newest chapters.  NARO remains the only national organization representing, solely and without compromise, oil and gas royalty owners’ interests.  The main focus of NARO’s work continues to be educational meetings and support for property owners’ right.

“The demographic of our membership might surprise some people.  There is a misconception that ‘Big Oil Fat Cats’ are the only ones benefitting from oil and gas development in our country. Just the rich getting richer. However, the average NARO member is a 60 year old widow who makes less than $500 a month in royalties.  For this average member that money is very important.  Our main effort is to help educate our members about how to best manage their minerals and work with industry to have a productive partnership that is a win/win.  However it is also very important that these people have a voice in Washington and at the state level so that our government is aware that they exist and have property rights they are interested in protecting,” said Cynthia Simonds, NARO National Development Director

“About seventy percent of the minerals in the US are privately owned.  We are the only country where that is true, except for a small piece of Canada,” Simmons said.  Is it estimated that there are 8.5 to 12 million royalty owners in the US. We work for them everyday to be sure they are being heard and considered when decisions are being made and new laws are being voted on.  We are proud to have the opportunity to speak on their behalf in this Congressional hearing,” said Simmons

For more information about NARO, visit their website www.naro-us.org