Number: 98-980
Title: FEDERAL SALES OF NATURAL RESOURCES: PRICING AND ALLOCATION MECHANISMS
Authors: Ross W. Gorte, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division 
Abstract: Although the federal government ended FY1997 with a budget surplus, pressures to realize federal budget savings persist. Many question whether federal resource prices should be set to increase the public returns from the sale or use of those resources or at least to avoid financial losses. This report describes the systems used by the federal government to price its resources (timber, forage for livestock grazing, recreation uses, various categories of minerals, commercial fisheries, and water from federal water projects) and to determine who gets access to those resources.
Pages: 6
Date: Updated December 11, 1998