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Miners have extracted billions of dollars worth of gold, silver, copper, and other hardrock (locatable) minerals from fed. lands without having to pay a royalty. The vast majority of the fed. lands where hardrock mining operations (HMO) occur are in 12 western states, including Alaska. These western states have statutes governing HMO on lands in their state. These states charge royalties that allow them to share in the proceeds from hardrock minerals extracted from state-owned lands. This report provides info. on: (1) which types of royalties the 12 western states assess on HMO; and (2) trends on imports and exports of hardrock minerals. It also provides data on HMO on fed. lands that the fed. gov¿t. either does not routinely collect or consistently maintain. Ill.

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on lands managed by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Forest Service and the U.S. Dept. of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Service has become popular over the past few decades. Some critics have asserted that OHV use causes adverse environmental, social, and safety impacts, while proponents have voiced concerns about retaining access to federal lands. This report examined the: (1) trends in and status of OHV use on federal lands, as well as reported environmental, social, and safety impacts; (2) agencies' strategic planning for managing OHV use; (3) actions taken by agency field units to manage OHV use; and (4) current OHV management challenges. Illustrations.

Ranchers pay a fee to graze their livestock on fed. land, primarily on fed. land located in the western states managed by 10 fed. agencies. The fee is based on the amount of forage that a cow & her calf can eat in 1 month. Advocates argue that grazing uses fed. land productively & that the grazing fee is fair. Opponents argue that grazing damages public resources & that grazing fees are too low. This report determines the: extent of, & purposes for, grazing in FY 2004 on lands 10 fed. agencies manage; amount fed. agencies spent in FY 2004 to manage grazing; total grazing receipts the 10 agencies collected in FY 2004 & amounts disbursed; & fees charged in 2004 by the 10 agencies, western states, & ranchers, & reasons for any differences. Tables.

Several challenges have emerged concerning future recreational opportunities in the D.C. These challenges include ensuring that an adequate supply of parkland & open space is avail. to meet the needs of an increasing resident pop'n. & the 20 million annual visitors to D.C. cultural institutions, historic sites, parks, & open spaces. This report identified: the universe of fed. property in D.C. managed by the NPS; what recreational facilities, incl. those that are sport related, exist on these properties; the conditions of the properties with sports facilities & the sports facilities thereon; new or expanded recreational uses discussed in NPS mgmt. plans; & the methods that could be used to convey mgmt. responsibility for NPS-managed properties to the D.C. gov't. Ill.

The Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have stewardship contracting authority, which allows the agencies to trade goods -- such as timber -- for services (e.g., thinning forests or rangelands) that the agencies would otherwise pay for with appropriated dollars, and to enter into stewardship contracts lasting up to 10 years. The authority is set to expire in 2013. This report determines: (1) the extent to which the agencies are using stewardship contracting; and (2) what successes and challenges the agencies have experienced in using it. In doing so, the auditor assessed agency data, reviewed project files, and visited projects in numerous locations. Illus.

The General Mining Act of 1872 helped open the West by allowing individuals to obtain exclusive rights to mine billions of dollars worth of gold, silver, and other hardrock (locatable) minerals from fed. lands without having to pay a fed. royalty. For years, some mining operators abandoned land used in their mining operations, creating environmental and physical safety hazards. To curb further growth in the number of abandoned hardrock mines on fed. lands, in 1981, the Dept. of the Interior¿s Bureau of Land Mgmt. (BLM) began requiring mining operators to reclaim BLM land disturbed by these operations. This testimony focuses on the: (1) royalties states charge; and (2) number of abandoned hardrock mine sites and hazards. Illustrations.

Wind power has recently experienced dramatic growth in the U.S., with further growth expected. However, several wind power-generating facilities have killed migratory birds & bats, prompting concern from wildlife biologists & others about the species affected, & the cumulative effects on species populations. This report assessed: (1) what available studies & experts have reported about the impacts of wind power facilities on wildlife in the U.S. & what can be done to mitigate or prevent such impacts; (2) the roles & responsibilities of gov't. agencies in regulating wind power facilities; & (3) the roles & responsibilities of gov't. agencies in protecting wildlife. Reviewed a sample of 6 states with wind power development for this report. Illustrations.

Since 1984, wildland fires have burned 850+ homes each year & the number of homes at risk is growing. The primary responsibility for ensuring that preventive steps are taken to protect homes lies with homeowners & state & local gov'ts., not the fed. gov't. The ability to communicate among all parties fighting a fire -- known as interoperability -- is essential, but is hampered because different public safety agencies operate on different radio frequencies or use incompatible communications equip. This report assesses: measures that can help protect structures from wildland fires, factors affecting use of protective measures, & the role technology plays in improving firefighting agencies' ability to communicate during wildland fires. Charts & tables.

The nation's wildland fire problems have worsened dramatically over the past decade, with more than a doubling of average annual acreage burned and federal appropriations for wildland fire management. The deteriorating fire situation has led the agencies responsible for managing wildland fires on federal lands -- the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture and four agencies in the Department of the Interior -- to reassess how they respond to wildland fire and to take steps to improve their fire management programs. This report reviewed: (1) progress the agencies have made in managing wildland fire; and (2) key actions previously recommended and are still necessary to improve wildland fire management. Charts and tables.