US EITI launches natural resource revenues portal

As part of its commitment to implement the EITI, the US Department of Interior (DoI) launched this week launched an interactive data portal, which allows the public to study the use of natural resources on federal lands. It includes detailed information on taxes collected from the oil, gas, coal, wind and geothermal industries and how these revenues are put to use.

The data portal can be accessed at: http://useiti.doi.gov/.

At the launch the US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said:

“This interactive data portal offers a wealth of information to the public in a comprehensive and accessible fashion and is another step in our efforts to reform and modernize royalty revenue management by the Department. This new tool provides clarity and transparency on the revenues generated by energy development on public lands and waters – a significant source of financial support for local communities, states, tribes and the nation – and the Department’s implementation of USEITI upholds President Obama’s commitment to the principles of open government.”

The pilot data portal was developed jointly by the Department of the Interior and the General Services Administration digital service program. When fully developed, the data portal will include information on more than 550 companies that meet the minimum payment threshold determined by the USEITI Multi-Stakeholder Group, currently planned to be $100,000 per annum).

As the work on USEITI progresses in the coming years, the pilot data portal will be expanded and enhanced to provide even greater levels of data and information from other government agencies.

The Head of the EITI Secretariat, Jonas Moberg said:

“The information generated by the EITI is much more useful when it can be easily accessed and understood. A growing number of EITI countries are making their data available in online portals. The US data portal is one of the most impressive examples to date, and we hope it will inspire other countries to follow the US example.”

The portal is made available under an open source licence, so the opportunities to replicate and build on this work are considerable.

For more information about the EITI in the US, see: http://www.doi.gov//eiti/faca/index.cfm or visit their country page on our website.