Skip to content
Taxpayers for Common Sense Logo Taxpayers for Common Sense Logo Taxpayers for Common Sense Logo
  • ISSUES
    • Agriculture
    • Budget & Tax
    • Disaster
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Transportation & Infrastructure
    • National Security
    • Explore All of Our Issues
  • OUR WORK
    • Analysis
    • Comments & Testimony
    • Databases
    • Deep Dives
    • In The News & Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Our Take
    • Press Releases & Statements
    • Reports
  • ABOUT
    • Overview
    • 30 Years of TCS
    • Our Solutions to Cut Waste
    • Awards
    • Annual Reports
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • Contact
  • WASTEBASKET
  • PODCAST
  • DONATE
  • Or, try our Advanced Search.

  • ISSUES
    • Agriculture
    • Budget & Tax
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Transportation & Infrastructure
    • National Security
    • Explore All of Our Issues
  • OUR WORK
    • Analysis
    • Comments & Testimony
    • Databases
    • Deep Dives
    • In the News & Op-Eds
    • Our Take
    • Press Releases & Statements
    • Reports
  • ABOUT
    • Overview
    • 30 Years of TCS
    • Awards
    • Annual Reports
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • Careers
  • WEEKLY WASTEBASKETLearn about the Weekly Wastebasket. Your weekly reality-check for federal spending. Join the thousands of Congressional and agency staff, journalists and activists who receive our Weekly Wastebasket – our weekly newsletter highlighting wasteful government spending – along with our solutions. Through the Weekly Wastebasket, you can count on TCS to provide insight into the realities of the federal budget process. And don’t worry, there’s nothing wasteful about it – it’s free! Get the facts, not the fluff – sign up now for the newsletter now.
  • PODCASTLearn about the PodcastWelcome to Budget Watchdog, All Federal — the podcast dedicated to making sense of the budget, spending, and tax issues facing the nation. Cut through the partisan rhetoric and talking points with TCS experts and guests for the facts about what’s being talked about, bandied about, and pushed in Washington. Subscribe
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT
  • SEARCH
Independent, nonpartisan government watchdog fighting for taxpayers since 1995

Federal Lands

Deep Dive, Federal Lands

Federal Lands

Find out how federal lands are being (mis)used in this deep dive.

Energy & Natural Resources,  | Analysis
Nov 30, 2018 | 50 sec read | Print Article

At the end of fiscal year 2017, half of all federal acreage set aside for oil and gas leasing was tied up in non-producing leases, locking out other potential uses.

Locked Out The Cost of Speculation in Federal Oil and Gas Leases 1

  • Case Study: Taxpayers Lose in Noncompetitive Montana Lease Sale
  • Report: Federal Oil and Gas Leasing: Getting a Fair Return from Rental Rates
  • Graphic: Acres Offered in Federal Gas & Oil Lease Sales
  • Graphic: Acreage Offered For Lease is Up from Four Year Average
  • Report: The Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Process
  • Fact Sheet: Arctic Refuge Leasing Revenues Don’t Add Up 
  • Report: The Cost of Speculation in Federal Oil and Gas Leases
Tags: Deep Dive, Federal Lands

Share This Story!

Related Posts

America’s Vanishing Carbon Ledger: What the Methane Rollback Means for Taxpayers

America’s Vanishing Carbon Ledger: What the Methane Rollback Means for Taxpayers

Oct 15, 2025
Fact-checking Chris Wright on energy

Fact-checking Chris Wright on energy

Oct 8, 2025
Comments on Delay of EPA Rule to Curb Methane Waste

Comments on Delay of EPA Rule to Curb Methane Waste

Oct 3, 2025
Comments on EPA Proposal to Repeal Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

Comments on EPA Proposal to Repeal Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

Oct 1, 2025
Federal oil and gas sale commences with new, lower royalty rates

Federal oil and gas sale commences with new, lower royalty rates

Sep 29, 2025
Oil and gas leases earn $22.8 million, but some taxpayers doubt benefits

Oil and gas leases earn $22.8 million, but some taxpayers doubt benefits

Sep 29, 2025

Most Read

Recent Content

  • meg q xqvrnWffE unsplash

    Weekly Wastebasket

    Get Back to Work

    Oct 17, 2025 | 5 min read
  • Methane Waste Rule Comment

    Our Take

    America’s Vanishing Carbon Ledger: What the Methane Rollback Means for Taxpayers

    Oct 15, 2025 | 6 min read
  • In the News Responsible Statecraft 3

    Op-Ed

    Put this nuclear missile on the back of a truck — but we still don’t need it

    Oct 14, 2025 | 2 min read
  • ai nhan pztNreyPxyY unsplash scaled

    Our Take

    The Anti-Deficiency Act, Explained the Hard Way

    Oct 14, 2025 | 5 min read

×
 
DONATE

Stay up to date on our work.

Sign up for our newsletter.

"*" indicates required fields

Issue Interests

SUPPORT TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE

Help us bring common sense to Washington.

  • ISSUES
  • Agriculture
  • Budget & Tax
  • Disaster
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Transportation & Infrastructure
  • National Security
  • OUR WORK
  • Analysis
  • Our Take
  • Weekly Wastebasket
  • Letters to the Hill
  • Statements
  • Data & Documents
  • Podcast
  • ABOUT
  • Overview
  • Careers
  • In the News
  • Staff & Board of Directors
  • Awards
  • Annual Reports
  • Privacy Policy
  • State Disclosures
  • IRS Compliance
  • Terms of Use
CONTACT US
General Inquiries
  • info@taxpayer.net
  • 202-546-8500
Press Team
  • media@taxpayer.net
  • 202-546-8500 (ext.106)
Got a confidential tip?

Or, search all our articles with our Advanced Search.

© Taxpayers for Common Sense | 651 Pennsylvania Ave, SE | Washington, DC 20003 | 202-546-8500 | Contact Us
Website Design by Get Sharp, Inc.
Page load link
Sign-up for the Weekly Wastebasket
____________________________
Our weekly newsletter highlights wasteful government
spending – along with our solutions.
We use cookies to broadly understand analytics only on this website. We use third party embeds to host some content as well. If you continue to use this site, we will assume you're okay with this. Accept & Close
Go to Top