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In 2000, 32 percent of U.S. oil, 35 percent of natural gas, and 37 percent of coal were produced from federal lands, representing 20,000 producing oil and gas leases and 135 producing coal leases. Federal lands are also estimated to contain approximately 68 percent of all undiscovered U.S. oil reserves and 74 percent of undiscovered natural gas.
As the nation's largest public land manager (responsible for 106 million hectares of surface lands and 280 million hectares of mineral estate) and the agency responsible for leasing of most fossil fuels on federal lands, BLM has a particularly important role in maintaining U.S. supplies of conventional energy resources.
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RESOURCES
NATIONAL WEB PAGES
Energy on Public Lands
A guide to energy resources found on public lands and how they are managed by the BLM, with background information and classroom activities.
http://www.blm.gov/education/LearningLandscapes.data/Components/downloads/EnergyOnPublicLandsWeb.pdf (940KB)
Energy: Fuel for Thought
This web version of an article in May 2002 Science and Children magazine outlines energy resources currently in use and explores resources that may power our future, with a focus on public land resources; includes poster and classroom activities.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/energy/index.html
BLM National Energy Office
Recommendations made in The National Energy Policy adopted by the President specifically affect some of the BLM's energy-related activities. The National Energy Office is responsible for implementing those recommendations.
http://www.blm.gov/energy/
BLM Minerals, Realty & Resource Protection
Fluids, solids, lands & realty; oil and gas permitting; links to state pages.
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/300/wo300.html
BLM Fluid Minerals
Information on oil, gas and geothermal resources. Includes information and maps on helium and how it is extracted from natural gas.
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/300/wo310/
BLM Solid Minerals
Information on mining; how BLM disposes of construction materials; coal on federal lands; and online versions of solid minerals publications.
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/300/wo320/index.html
STATE AND FIELD OFFICE SITES
Get Energized!
BLM Alaska Interactive Program
Online version of an energy education CD developed by BLM's Campbell Creek Science Center in Anchorage, Alaska.
http://www.blm.gov/ak/getenergized.html
BLM-Alaska: Juneau Mineral Information Center
Interactive maps of mineral deposits of the Ketchikan Mining District; online tour of Historic Treadwell Mines; poster of "Our Hidden Treasures" including details on mineral specimens.
http://juneau.ak.blm.gov/
BLM-California: Geothermal Leasing in California
Information on development of geothermal resources in California
http://www.ca.blm.gov/caso/geothermal.html
BLM-Wyoming: Mineral Production from Federal Lands
Worland, WY, Field Office site includes basic information on oil and gas exploration and bentonite mining.
http://www.wy.blm.gov/wfo/minerals.htm