BLM oil and gas jobs, revenue jump
Jobs supported and revenue generated on public lands managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management increased dramatically in 2018, driven by oil and gas operations.
In 2018, activities on BLM land nationwide supported 471,000 full- and part-time jobs, an increase from 468,000 in 2017, according to a BLM study.
Revenue from those operations rose to $105 billion in 2018 from 95.6 billion in 2017, records show.
Energy production was a major contributor to the growth as the BLM leased 13 million acres to the industry in 2018 for a total of 25 million acres leased to oil and gas across the country.
Oil production on federal land grew to 214.1 million barrels in 2018, up from 174 million barrels in 2017.
“The BLM remains committed to the sustainable development of America’s energy and natural resources,” said Casey Hammond, acting assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management.
The New Mexico BLM office, which also manages land in Kansas and Oklahoma, generated $20 billion total, records show, with $18.9 billion coming from oil and gas, the most in the country.
In total, $71.5 billion was generated from oil and gas nationwide by the BLM in 2018.
Wyoming was second in oil and gas revenue, with $13.2 billion in 2018, according to the study, with Colorado third with $6.9 billion.
Coal production managed at the New Mexico office generated $245.2 million, and nonenergy minerals brought in $281.6 million, records show. Outdoor recreation in the state generated $211.4 million in 2018.
The New Mexico office supported 68,000 jobs, according to the study, the most in the nation. The office also held three oil and gas lease sales in fiscal year 2018, generating more than $1 billion.