Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Public lands and waters are taxpayer assets that Congress should manage to preserve their value, ensure a fair return from private interests using them for profit, and avoid future taxpayer liabilities. Yet much federal policy governing the use of these valuable public assets is based on grossly outdated laws. ...More

The General Mining Law of 1872 was partly intended to promote settlement of the West, but modern mining companies use it to extract valuable gold and copper from public lands without paying taxpayers a royalty. Taxpayers subsidize construction of forest roads intended primarily for profitable timber companies. Outdated federal policies for managing and pricing scarce water supplies in the West result in unintended taxpayer costs.

Congress and the Administration should establish rents, royalties, and fees for private development of public land so taxpayers receive a fair return.

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All the latest content from TCS in Natural Resources
Letters & Testimony

TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

February 05, 2013

TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ryan Alexander testified before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee... Read More

Our Take

Government Report: Taxpayers Losing Billions in Unaccounted Minerals Extracted from Federal Lands

December 20, 2012

The federal government does not know the value of hardrock minerals being extracted from public lands, a new report by the Government... Read More

Our Take

House Science Subcommittee Debates Oil Shale Subsidies

December 12, 2012

The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing November 30th to discuss the development of... Read More

Press Releases

Hall Bill to Create Millions in New Taxpayer Handouts for Oil Shale

December 10, 2012

Last month, Representative Ralph Hall (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 6603) to create $50 million in new taxpayer-funded handouts for oil shale speculation.... Read More

Press Releases

Report shows billions risked on oil shale speculation

November 29, 2012

Report shows billions risked on oil shale speculation With fiscal cliff looming, TCS calls for end to government handouts for failed oil shale experiments.... Read More

Statements

President Ms. Ryan Alexander Sliding Past Sequestration Statement

October 01, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2012 CONTACTS: Steve Ellis 202-546-8500 x126 or steve@taxpayer.net Taxpayers for Common Sense... Read More

More in-depth material from TCS in Natural Resources
Fact Sheets

Taxpayer Risks with the Loan Guarantee Program

April 07, 2011 > Updated: August 28, 2012

Taxpayer Risks with the Loan Guarantee Program The Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee program carries extremely high taxpayer risk, potentially jeopardizing billions of taxpayer dollars if energy project loans default.... Read More

Fact Sheets

Oil Shale: Failing Taxpayers for Decades

December 19, 2012

Since the early 20th century, the federal government and private industry have attempted to commercialize oil shale but after years of... Read More

Reports & Data

Subsidizing Oil Shale: Tracing Federal Support for Oil Shale Development in the United States

November 29, 2012

Subsidizing Oil Shale: Tracing Federal Support for Oil Shale Development in the United States With fiscal cliff looming, TCS calls for end to government handouts for failed oil shale experiments.... Read More

101

Loan Guarantee Program 101

October 16, 2012

Loan Guarantee Program 101 A basic primer on the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program and answers general questions on the history, administration, and overall effect of the program.... Read More

TCS appearances in the media in Natural Resources

Fiscal reform needs accountability, less agency overlap

February 11, 2013 | Fierce Government

Government fiscal reform needs to come in the form of accountability, prioritizing by need and training if long term success is to be seen,... Read More

Green Scissors for Congress

February 06, 2013 | OtherWords

When you’re in a hole, you stop digging. And when you’ve got a $1.3-trillion deficit and $15.7 trillion in debt, you’ve got to start... Read More

US coal export trade raises alarms for Western states

December 20, 2012 | Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Western states that rely on receipts from coal sales to help fund their governments are concerned the mining industry... Read More

Report: No Future in Oil Shale, Utah’s “Rock That Burns”

December 17, 2012 | Public News Service

VERNAL, Utah - It isn't working out and it's costing taxpayers money. Those are two reasons a congressional watchdog group opposes oil shale... Read More

Group Says Billions of Dollars Risked on Oil Shale Speculation

December 12, 2012 | Yahoo News

The nonpartisan budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense reported this week that billions of taxpayer dollars have been risked over... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

November 30, 2012

Sham Savings Scam

As talks on ways to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff meander along, unsurprisingly lawmakers are lining up to... Read More