News and reports from the Department of the Interior.

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior announced a $242 million investment as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aimed at providing clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through five water storage and conveyance projects. These projects in California, Colorado, and Washington are expected to add at least 1.6 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, sufficient to support 6.4 million people for a year. Additionally, funding will be allocated for a feasibility study in Arizona designed to enhance future water...

The Department of the Interior announced $30.59 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to clean up legacy pollution in Arkansas and Louisiana. Arkansas will receive a $5.59 million award to plug and reclaim approximately 274 orphaned oil and gas well sites, while Louisiana will use its $25 million award for approximately 540 similar sites. These investments aim to create union jobs, stimulate economic growth, protect public health, and advance environmental justice.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland this week led the United States delegation to the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Throughout the conference and in meetings with counterparts and partners, Secretary Haaland and the delegation – which included senior officials and experts from across the Biden-Harris administration – underscored the United States government’s commitment to SIDS and advancing their sustainable development for a resilient future.

The Department of the Interior has announced a $179 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aimed at innovative water reuse projects to bolster drought resilience across the western United States. This funding, sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support four projects in California and Utah designed to enhance water reliability.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz traveled to Massachusetts and Rhode Island this week, where she highlighted how investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and America the Beautiful initiative are helping restore ecosystems for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

The Department of the Interior announced an $81 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for water conservation and drought resilience south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California's San Joaquin Valley. The announcement was made by Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Sarah Krakoff, and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton at the Stewart Lee Udall building.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recently visited Southern California to discuss conservation efforts with federal, state, Tribal and local officials. The focus of her visit was the proposed establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument and expansion of Joshua Tree National Park.

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.