exv99w1

Exhibit 99.1

WILLIAMS COAL SEAM GAS ROYALTY TRUST

PRESS RELEASE

Williams Coal Seam Gas Royalty Trust Announces Quarterly Cash Distribution

DALLAS, TEXAS, May 5, 2004 — Bank of America, N.A., as trustee of Williams Coal Seam Gas Royalty Trust, today announced a quarterly cash distribution to the holders of its units of beneficial interest of $0.396403 per unit, payable May 28, 2004 to unitholders of record on May 17, 2004.

The Trust owns net profits interests in certain proved coal seam gas properties owned by Williams Production Company (WPC) and located in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado, including WPC’s 35 percent net profits interest in 5,348 gross acres in La Plata County, Colorado (the “Farmout Properties”). WPC reported that production attributable to its gross interests in the properties burdened by the Trust’s net profits interests was 5.1 trillion British thermal units (TBtu) during the period associated with this quarterly cash distribution compared to 4.4 TBtu during the preceding period. When prior period adjustments are excluded, production in the current quarter was 4.8 TBtu compared to a similar 5.0 TBtu in the preceding quarter. The distribution per unit increased from $0.329589 to $0.396403 primarily as a result of an increase in revenue attributable to a positive retroactive adjustment of $0.06 for the Working Interest Properties in the first quarter of 2004.

The Trust is a grantor trust formed by The Williams Companies, Inc., parent company of WPC, and was designed to provide unitholders with quarterly cash distributions and tax credits under Section 29 of the Internal Revenue Code from certain coal seam gas properties. The units are listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WTU”.

For more information on Williams Coal Seam Gas Royalty Trust, please visit our website at www.wtu-williamscoalseamgastrust.com.

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CONTACT:
     Ron E. Hooper, Senior Vice President
     Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
     (800) 365-6544