Scrutiny rises for royalties paid on U.S. coal exports to Asia

Some powerful folks, including Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., would like to know:

Are coal companies on public land using in-house affiliates to buy and ship Western coal to high-priced Asian markets, then paying royalties based on far lower domestic prices?

Ambre Energy Ltd., one of the companies seeking to export coal through the Northwest, laid out a clear answer in response to a lawsuit filed by a business partner last year: Yes.