Federal land policy in South Carolina
 in South Carolina |
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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. As of 2012, the federal government owned 4.64 percent of South Carolina's total land, 898,637 acres out of 19,374,080 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, South Carolina spans 19.37 million acres. Of that total, 4.64 percent, or 1.9 million acres, belonged to the federal government as of 2012. More than 18 million acres in South Carolina are not owned by the federal government, or 3.99 non-federal acres per capita. From 1990 to 2010, the federal government's land ownership in South Carolina increased by 7,455 acres.[1]
The table below shows federal land ownership in South Carolina compared to its neighbor, Georgia, and a Midwestern state, Minnesota, as a comparison.
| Federal land ownership in South Carolina and other states by agency | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | |||||||||||
| Agency | South Carolina | Georgia | Minnesota | ||||||||
| Acres owned | Percentage owned | Acres owned | Percentage owned | Acres owned | Percentage owned | ||||||
| U.S. Forest Service | 867,199 | 44.32% | 630,741 | 70.19% | 2,841,630 | 81.91% | |||||
| U.S. National Park Service | 39,754 | 2.03% | 31,538 | 3.51% | 139,570 | 4.02% | |||||
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 482,694 | 24.67% | 126,653 | 14.09% | 483,787 | 13.95% | |||||
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,447 | 0.04% | |||||
| U.S. Department of Defense | 567,072 | 28.98% | 109,705 | 12.21% | 2,777 | 0.08% | |||||
| Total federal land | 1,956,719 | 100% | 898,637 | 100% | 3,469,211 | 100.00% | |||||
| Source: Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data" | |||||||||||
Land usage
Recreation
National parks in South Carolina
South Carolina has six National Park Service units, one national monument, two national forests, seven wilderness areas, two national historic sites and one national historic trail. A study by the U.S. National Park Service found that 1.51 million visitors attended South Carolina's national parks and monuments and generated $79.7 million in visitor spending in 2013.[3]
State recreation lands
South Carolina's state parks are managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR). To access a complete list of public access properties operated by DNR, click here.[4]
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 its 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 containing information on how the exploration, drilling and production will be conducted by the company. Afterward, the BLM will produce an environmental analysis and a list of requirements before energy exploration can begin. The agency also inspects the companies' drilling and producing on the leased lands.[5]
In 2013, there were 47,427 active leases covering 36.09 million acres of federal land nationwide. Of that total, no leases were in South Carolina. In 2013, out of 3,770 new drilling leases approved nationwide by the BLM for oil and gas exploration, no leases were in South Carolina.[6][7][8][9][10]
The table below shows how South Carolina compared to neighboring states in oil and gas permits on BLM-managed lands in 2013. Only Tennessee had active leases on federal land.
| Oil and gas leasing on BLM lands by state | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Active permits on BLM lands (FY 2013) | Total acres under lease (FY 2013) | State percentage of total permits | State percentage of total acres |
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Tennessee | 2 | 736 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Total United States | 47,427 permits | 36,092,482 acres | - | - |
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics" | ||||
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.[11]
The table below shows PILTs for South Carolina compared to neighboring states between 2011 and 2013.
| Total PILTs for South Carolina and neighboring states | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | FY 2011 | FY 2012 | FY 2013 | State's percentage of 2013 total | ||
| South Carolina | $394,712 | $405,963 | $470,359 | 0.12% | ||
| Georgia | $2,072,956 | $2,242,635 | $2,286,091 | 0.57% | ||
| North Carolina | $3,919,443 | $4,030,522 | $3,997,200 | 1.00% | ||
| Tennessee | $1,695,519 | $1,826,471 | $1,877,039 | 0.47% | ||
| Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT" | ||||||
Environmental policy in the 50 states
Click on a state below to read more about that state's energy policy.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data," accessed September 15, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Congressional Research Service, "Federal Lands and Natural Resources: Overview and Selected Issues for the 113th Congress," December 8, 2014
- ↑ U.S. National Park Service, "2013 National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report," accessed October 14, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina Parks, "Park Finder," accessed December 22, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Lease Sales," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Acres Leased During the Fiscal Year," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Leases in Effect," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Summary of Onshore Oil and Gas Statistics," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Drilling Permits Approved by Fiscal Year on Federal Lands," accessed October 20, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Acres Under Lease As of the Last Day of the Fiscal Year," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT," accessed October 4, 2014
