News and reports from the Department of the Interior.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a $35.2 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to continue reclaiming and restoring orphaned oil and gas wells in California. The announcement was made during the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Week. The funding is expected to help plug and remediate 206 high-risk orphaned oil and gas wells, decommission 47 production facilities, and remove approximately 70,000 feet of associated pipelines.

Today, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Week, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis visited New Mexico to announce a $25 million grant from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding is earmarked for cleaning up legacy pollution in the state. New Mexico plans to use this grant to plug approximately 117 orphaned oil and gas wells, remediate four sites, and complete surface restoration at 33 locations.

Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis announced today that over $520 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda will be allocated to revitalize aging water delivery systems across the West. This funding is set to support 57 projects spanning all six regions served by the Bureau of Reclamation, with the aim of improving water conveyance and storage, increasing safety, enhancing hydropower generation, and providing water treatment.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland faced inquiries from Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) during a May 2 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing about undisclosed meetings between Department of the Interior (DOI) officials and the Wilderness Society concerning the Twin Metals critical minerals project.

The Department of the Interior has announced the allocation of $54.2 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to clean up legacy pollution in North Dakota and West Virginia. The funds will be used to address orphaned oil and gas wells, reclaim well sites, and remediate contaminated locations.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a $60 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for water conservation and drought resilience in the Rio Grande Basin. The funds will enhance climate resiliency and water security for communities downstream of Elephant Butte Reservoir extending into West Texas.

The Department of the Interior today announced more than $87 million in funding has been approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, providing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners the ability to help conserve, restore or enhance 315,823 acres of critical wetland and associated upland habitat for migratory birds across North America – including Canada and Mexico.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis, along with other Biden-Harris administration officials, historians, museum leaders, conservation leaders, and others gathered today to honor the legacy and contributions of a diverse range of women and girls to our country. They also highlighted the Administration’s efforts to increase the representation of women’s history in sites across America.

DURANGO, Colo. — The Department of the Interior has unveiled a significant investment of $147.6 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to aid communities in tackling water reliability challenges stemming from drought and water scarcity concerns. This funding will support 42 projects across ten states.Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the administration's commitment to addressing the impacts of drought, stating, "As communities across the West continue to face the impacts of ongoing drought, the Biden-Harris administration is making record investments to...

Secretary Deb Haaland expressed her appreciation for President Biden’s expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, stating, “Locally led conservation efforts are at the heart of what we are advancing in the Biden-Harris administration. Molok Luyuk is sacred to the Tribes who have long advocated for its protection and maintain a deep connection with this land and thanks to President Biden’s leadership, it will now be protected for future generations.” Haaland further added, “Today I am honored to stand with the Tribal leaders, local communities, and...

The Department of the Interior has revealed a significant investment of $71 million to assist Tribal communities in electrifying their homes. This funding, part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, aims to transition all homes in Indian Country to clean energy sources, aligning with the administration's objective of achieving a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035.Secretary Haaland expressed the department's commitment to supporting Tribes in enhancing their electricity infrastructure, stating, “As the Interior Department implements this new program, we...

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior, under the Biden-Harris administration, has unveiled plans for offshore wind energy auctions off the coast of Oregon and in the Gulf of Maine. These proposals, announced by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), have the potential to generate over 18 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, enough to power more than six million homes.Secretary Deb Haaland expressed the administration's commitment to green energy, job creation, and community resilience, stating, "Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department...

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Arizona this week to underscore the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to clean energy progress and strengthening Indian Country. Secretary Haaland, along with Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning, celebrated the completion of the Ten West Link transmission line in La Paz County, showcasing the administration's efforts to accelerate transmission buildout.During the event, Secretary Haaland emphasized the administration's dedication to developing a robust and sustainable clean energy economy, stating,...

Assistant Secretary Shannon Estenoz recently concluded a weeklong tour of national parks in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to commemorate National Park Week and emphasize the positive impacts of investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The National Park Service has committed $195 million for climate restoration and resilience projects over the next decade, with a focus on protecting America’s national parks for future generations."In Biscayne National Park, supported by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, teams of scientists are at work...

TAOS, N.M. — Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland visited New Mexico this week, where he joined leaders from the Taos Pueblo for the release of 10 bison from Yellowstone National Park into their existing herd. During the visit, Assistant Secretary Newland highlighted the significant funding the Department has invested through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to support the restoration of bison populations and grassland ecosystems in Tribal communities.Through its bison range activities, the Taos Pueblo is reestablishing native grasses through...