Senators Want Coal Exports Reviewed

U.S. coal exports hit a record of an estimated 124 million tons last year. Friday, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski asked U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to determine if companies have violated federal leasing laws and are shortchanging federal and state governments out of millions of dollars by paying royalties on the coal's mine price, then exporting it overseas at a higher price through affiliated brokers.  National Mining Association spokeswoman Carol Raulston says companies believe they are complying with the law.