Natural Resources

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• Reports & Data

  Green Scissors 2012

  Details nearly $700 billion in potential savings from ending wasteful and environmentally harmful subsidies....

  
• TCS Testifies Before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  Highlighting several areas for the committee to explore as we work to ensure that our precious tax dollars are being spent wisely...

  
• Report shows billions risked on oil shale speculation

  Over the last century, billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies have been risked on failed oil shale experiments...

  
• Reports & Data

  Coal Subsidies Database

  This database is an ongoing project to identify specific recipients of federally-backed subsidies provided to coal-fired power plants that use applicable clean coal technologies ...

  
• Fair Market Value for Wind and Solar Development on Public Land

  Use of revenues from commercial energy development on federal lands...

  

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 Yet much federal policy governing the use of these valuable public assets is based on grossly outdated laws.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 Outdated federal policies for managing and pricing scarce water supplies in the West result in unintended taxpayer costs.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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