| Contacts: | Dana Wilson | , (202) 912-7138 |
BLM-managed Lands Contributed $130 Billion to the U.S. Economy in FY 2011
Public lands and resources managed by the Bureau of Land Management contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy while supporting more than 600,000 American jobs in Fiscal Year 2011, BLM Acting Director Mike Pool announced today at a Public Lands Commemoration Forum in Phoenix, Arizona. The figures from FY 2011, which ended September 30, 2011, are the latest available for a complete fiscal year.
“It’s important to recognize the valuable social and economic role that the BLM plays in both local and national economies,” said Pool. “The revenue generated from BLM’s multiple-use mission continues to serve as a vital economic contributor for the nation.”
The BLM, with an annual budget of $1 billion, manages 245 million acres of public lands and 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate. In FY 2011, the agency generated more revenue than it spent through mineral leasing, energy development, outdoor recreation, and other activities on public lands.
Pool also noted that by offering diverse recreational opportunities on public lands, the BLM not only generated $7 billion in FY 2011, but also provided immeasurable aesthetic and outdoor leisure benefits to the American public.
A report produced by the BLM, titled “The BLM: A Sound Investment for America,” is available online, accompanied by a video and a detailed Webpage that provides a breakdown of the numbers by resource area and state, accessible at http://on.doi.gov/SoundInvestment.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.