Federal land policy in Nebraska (2024)

in Nebraska

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Public Policy
Environmental policy in the United States
Endangered species policy
Endangered species policy in the U.S.
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Federal land policy involves the ownership and management of land owned by the federal government. As of 2012, the federal government owned between 635 million to 640 million acres, or 28 percent, of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Federal land is managed for many purposes, such as the conservation and development of natural resources, grazing and recreation. The federal government owns 1.12 percent of Nebraska's total land, 549,346 acres out of 49,031,680 total acres.

Land ownership

See also: Federal land policy and Federal land ownership by state

The federal government owned between 635 million and 640 million acres of land in 2012 (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Around 52 percent of federally owned acres were in 12 Western states—including Alaska, 61 percent of which was federally owned. In contrast, the federal government owned 4 percent of land in the other 38 states. Federal land policy is designed to manage minerals, oil and gas resources, timber, wildlife and fish, and other natural resources found on federal land. Land management policies are highly debated for their economic, environmental and social impacts. Additionally, the size of the federal estate and the acquisition of more federal land are major issues.^[1][2]

According to the Congressional Research Service, Nebraska spans 49.03 million acres. Of that total, 1.12 percent, or 549,346 acres, belonged to the federal government as of 2012. More than 48.4 million acres in Nebraska are not owned by the federal government, or 25.94 non-federal acres per capita. From 1990 to 2010, the federal government's land ownership in Nebraska increased by 20,639 acres.^[1]

The table below shows federal land ownership in Nebraska compared to its neighbor, South Dakota, and a Western state, Nevada. The U.S. Forest Service owned more than 350,000 acres in Nebraska compared to more than 2 million acres in South Dakota and 5.7 million acres in Nevada. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages endangered species, owned 173,614 acres in Nebraska compared to 205,128 acres in South Dakota and more than 2.3 million acres in Nevada.

Land usage

Recreation

National parks in Nebraska

Nebraska has five National Park Service units, three national monuments, three national forests, two wilderness areas and five national historic trails. A study by the U.S. National Park Service found that 257,904 visitors attended Nebraska’'s national parks and monuments and generated $11.7 million in visitor spending in 2013.^[3]

State recreation areas

Nebraska's state parks are managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Department. To access a complete list of public access properties, including state parks and recreational areas, click here.

Economic activity on federal lands

Oil and gas activity

See also: BLM oil and gas leases by state

Private mining companies, including oil and natural gas companies, can apply for leases from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to explore and produce energy on federal land. The company seeking a lease must nominate the land for oil and gas exploration to the BLM, which evaluates and approves the lease. The BLM state offices make leasing decisions based on their land use plans, which contain information on the land's resources and the potential environmental impact of oil or gas exploration. If federal lands are approved for leasing, the BLM requires an application from the company containing information on how the exploration, drilling and production will be conducted. Afterward, the BLM will produce an environmental analysis and a list of requirements before work on the land can begin. The agency also inspects the companies' drilling and producing on the leased lands.^[4]

In 2013, there were 47,427 active leases covering 36.09 million acres of federal land nationwide. Of that total, 30 leases (0.06 percent of all leases), covering 11,428 acres (0.03 percent of all leased land in 2013), were in Nebraska. In 2013, out of 3,770 new drilling leases approved nationwide by the BLM for oil and gas exploration, no leases were in Nebraska.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

The table below shows how Nebraska compared to neighboring states in oil and gas permits on BLM-managed lands in 2013. Nebraska had more active leases and acres under lease than Iowa abut fewer than Kansas and North Dakota.

Payments in lieu of taxes

See also: Payments in lieu of taxes

Since local governments cannot collect taxes on federally owned property, the U.S. Department of the Interior issues payments to local governments to replace lost property tax revenue from federal land. The payments, known as "Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (PILTs), are typically used for funding services such as fire departments, police protection, school construction and roads.^[10]

The table below shows PILTs for Nebraska compared to neighboring states between 2011 and 2013. Nebraska received more PILTs in 2013 than Iowa and Kansas but fewer than South Dakota.

Environmental policy in the 50 states

Click on a state below to read more about that state's energy policy.

See also

• 

  Environmental policy in the U.S.

• 

  Energy policy in the U.S.

• 

  Endangered species policy

External links

• U.S. National Park Service
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• Congressional Research Service

Footnotes

v•e Environmental Policy
Background	Environmental policy in the United States • Clean Air Act • Clean Water Act • Conservation • Endangered Species Act • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Enforcement at the EPA • Glossary of environmental terms • Energy and environmental news
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Endangered species terms	Candidate species • Critical habitat • Delisting • Distinct population segment • Endangered species • Listed species • Listing a species • Listing petition • Species recovery • Taking a species
Environmental policy by state	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Endangered species policy	Costs of listing a species • Delisting a species • Endangered Species Act litigation • Endangered species policy in the United States • Endangered Species Act litigation • History of the Endangered Species Act • Private property and the Endangered Species Act • Science and the Endangered Species Act • Success rate of the Endangered Species Act • Transparency and the Endangered Species Act
Endangered species policy by state	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Environmental statistics	Payments in lieu of taxes • Land ownership by state • Grazing permits on BLM lands • Federal land ownership by state • BLM oil and gas permits by state • Environmental spending in the 50 states • Greenhouse gas emissions by state • Superfund sites in the United States • National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report
Endangered species statistics	Endangered species by state • Endangered animals by state • Endangered plants by state • Delisted species • Top 20 federally funded species • Land acquisition funding for endangered species • Federal endangered species grants by state