NEWS BLIPS
Economic Output of Public Lands Rises Drastically
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through RVBusiness' website.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke released the Department’s Economic Report for Fiscal Year 2017 showing for the first time in several years, economic growth and jobs supported by federal lands both increased. According to the report, the economic output of Interior’s federal lands and resources increased by $400 million to $292 billion and the number of jobs supported increased by 230,000 to 1.8 million jobs. Gains are due to increased energy production and revenues, regulatory reform, changes to land uses and access, infrastructure projects, and other factors.
RVBusiness staff relays in their article, in Fiscal Year 2017, Interior increased federal energy disbursements by nearly $1 billion. Interior-managed lands and waters produced 869 million barrels of crude oil, 4.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 347 million tons of coal. Oil, gas and coal produced from Interior lands and waters supported an estimated $134 billion in economic output and an estimated 676,000 jobs. "Anyone who grew up in the West can tell you that federal lands are working lands and, if managed properly, they support jobs and economic activity for communities in industries like recreation, energy, agriculture, and mining,” said Secretary Zinke in a press release. "I grew up in Montana where most of the men in my community worked in timber, mining, or agriculture. Rural communities relied on federal lands for jobs and resources. But for many years, much of the land and water was locked up and not available for use," he continues. National parks, refuges, and other public lands managed by Interior hosted an estimated 483 million recreational visits in FY 2017—up from 473 million in FY 2016. These visits supported an estimated $52 billion in economic output and an estimated 418,000 jobs nationwide.
For the complete article on Sierra Sun Times summarizing the increase of economic impact by public lands, click here.