AP reported that a Wyoming state lawmaker has become a director of an Australian coal company that wants to mine Powder River Basin coal.

Republican Rep Mr David Miller of Riverton sold his Campbell County mineral rights to Sydney based County Coal Ltd for USD 200,000 on March 11. Mr Miller a geologist became a director of the company on April 29.

He now holds 1 million shares in the company and will get 3% royalty payments on coal mined in the basin, one of the richest coal sources in the United States.

Mr Miller said “They asked me if I would be a director of the company. I said ‘I think I can.’”

Mr Miller said he will rescue himself from any votes in the Legislature that directly affect County Coal projects, but he said votes on coal issues in general aren’t as clear cut.

County Coal didn’t respond to the newspaper’s request for more information about its Powder River Basin plans.

(Sourced from AP)