Protecting the Taxpayer's Share of Natural Resource Revenues on Public Lands and Oceans

Each year, taxpayers earn more than $11 billion from the natural resources developed from the public lands and oceans that belong to them and which federal agencies manage on their behalf. This income--generated from activities ranging from deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to coal mining in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2013
Main Authors: Lee-Ashley, Matt, Goad, Jessica, Madowitz, Michael, Conathan, Michael
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Budgets/Expenditures
Center for American Progress
Land/Land use
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:Each year, taxpayers earn more than $11 billion from the natural resources developed from the public lands and oceans that belong to them and which federal agencies manage on their behalf. This income--generated from activities ranging from deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to coal mining in Wyoming to geothermal plants in Nevada--is one of the largest nontax sources of revenue for U.S. taxpayers and is available for the benefit of all Americans. Congress, however, is currently considering several proposed changes to U.S. natural resource revenue policy that, if enacted, would have profound budgetary and policy implications. These changes would fundamentally undermine the principle that the resources on and under public lands and waters belong to all Americans and should be shared equitably.