U.S. Department of Interior
Recent News About U.S. Department of Interior
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Interior Department revisits legacy of federal Indian boarding schools in Pennsylvania
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, along with Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kathryn Isom-Clause, visited Carlisle, Pennsylvania as part of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. This initiative, launched in June 2021 by Secretary Haaland, aims to address the legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies and their impact on Indigenous communities.
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Biden-Harris Administration releases new guidance for states on accessing infrastructure law funds
The Department of the Interior has issued draft guidance on how states can apply for up to $40 million each in Regulatory Improvement Grant funding under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding aims to create jobs and clean up orphaned oil and gas wells across the United States. The announcement also marks the beginning of a public comment period to gather feedback on the draft guidance.
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New federal report recommends strategies for boosting community-led forest economy
On September 27, 2024, the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce released a report recommending strategies to boost community-led economic development in the sustainable forest product sector and outdoor recreation. This initiative supports healthy forests while creating jobs in rural communities. The report was developed in response to climate change impacts, workforce and housing shortages, and barriers to intergovernmental coordination. It builds on President Biden’s Executive Order on Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies...
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Departments hold roundtable on Indigenous peoples' crises
The Department of the Interior and the Justice Department held a virtual roundtable on Thursday to discuss improving media coverage of missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking (HT). The event included Tribal representatives, advocates, members of the media, and survivors.
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Biden-Harris Administration allocates funds for tribal home electrification
The Department of the Interior has announced a $71 million investment to electrify homes in 13 Tribal communities across Indian Country. This funding is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and aims to close the Tribal access-to-electricity gap. The investment, sourced from the Inflation Reduction Act, represents a significant step towards achieving a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035.
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Biden-Harris Administration allocates $9.9M for abandoned mine cleanup in Colorado
The Department of the Interior has announced over $9.9 million in fiscal year 2024 funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to address abandoned mine lands (AML) in Colorado. This initiative aims to create jobs and stimulate economic growth while addressing environmental issues.
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Interior Department announces $254 million investment in local parks
The Department of the Interior has announced a historic investment from the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP). The National Park Service (NPS) will allocate $254.68 million to 54 projects across 24 states for the redevelopment or creation of local parks.
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Biden-Harris Administration signs new water conservation deals for Colorado River System
The Department of the Interior has announced significant progress for the Colorado River System's health. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton joined leaders from various water districts and the Gila River Indian Community to sign five new water conservation agreements. These agreements will utilize funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to advance water conservation efforts across the Western United States.
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Biden-Harris Administration invests $92 million in aquatic ecosystem restoration
The Department of the Interior has announced a nearly $92 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to fund 19 projects aimed at restoring and protecting aquatic ecosystems. This funding, sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, will be directed towards projects in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. The goal is to improve the health of fish, wildlife, and aquatic habitats through various restoration initiatives.
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Biden-Harris Administration allocates over $24M for land and water restoration
The Department of the Interior has announced over $24 million in funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to restore lands and waters across the United States. This announcement coincides with Climate Week and is part of a broader effort under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support 50 ecosystem restoration projects in 34 states and multiple U.S. Territories.
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Controversy surrounds U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation into primate imports, boosting Chinese vaccine research
A watchdog group has raised concerns over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) five-year investigation into the sourcing of nonhuman primates (NHPs) from Cambodia, calling it a failed operation that may have given China an edge in vaccine research.
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Biden-Harris administration allocates $1.3 million for wildfire response enhancement
The Department of the Interior announced nearly $1.3 million in awards through a pilot program aimed at enhancing local governments' wildfire response by converting vehicles into wildland fire engines. Authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program assists small, remote emergency response agencies in expanding their wildfire response capacity amidst the increasing impacts of climate change, drought, and intensifying wildfires.
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Biden-Harris Administration invests nearly $17 million in tribal land pollution cleanup
The Department of the Interior announced a $16.73 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to assist five Tribal Nations in cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells on their homelands. This funding aims to address legacy pollution, reduce methane leaks, and tackle environmental hazards affecting Tribal communities. This initiative builds on previous grants totaling $12 million last month and $40 million allocated last year.
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Biden-Harris Administration announces first offshore wind lease sale in Gulf Of Maine
The Department of the Interior announced it will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale on October 29, 2024, for eight areas on the Outer Continental Shelf off Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. If fully developed, these areas have a potential capacity of approximately 13 gigawatts of clean offshore wind energy, which could power more than 4.5 million homes. This announcement follows the Department’s recent approval of more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy from offshore wind projects since the start of the Biden-Harris administration—equivalent to half of the capacity...
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Interior Department announces over $157M funding boost for wetland conservation
The Department of the Interior announced that more than $46.2 million in grants was approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission today, which will conserve or restore 91,425 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other birds in 17 states. These grants, made through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), will be matched by more than $99.1 million in partner funds.
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236 Million allocated for wildfire resilience under Biden's Investing in America agenda
TUCSON, Ariz. — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis announced $236 million in funding allocations from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support wildland fire management into fiscal year 2025 across the nation. The funding aims to reduce wildfire risk, enhance firefighter training, rehabilitate burned areas in collaboration with partners, and advance wildfire science. This announcement brings the total allocation for wildland fire management from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to nearly $1.1 billion since its implementation in fiscal...
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Interior Department awards $1 million in NATIVE Act grants to Native Hawaiian organizations
The Department of the Interior’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations (ONHR) announced today the award of $1 million in grants to six Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) to implement the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act. The funding aims to enable Indigenous communities to participate in national tourism goals while enhancing native tourism, empowering native communities, and expanding cultural tourism opportunities.
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Biden-Harris Administration announces renewable progress: New onshore initiatives set for Nevada
LAS VEGAS — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi visited Las Vegas today to announce the advancement of multiple clean energy projects in Nevada that will create jobs, lower families’ energy costs, and help meet the Biden-Harris administration's renewable energy goals. The announcement comes as the Administration has released new data to demonstrate how historic steps taken to accelerate and improve federal permitting processes are helping deliver more projects efficiently across the United States.
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Biden-Harris Administration allocates $43.5 million for Western U.S. water storage projects
The Department of the Interior has announced the availability of up to $43.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for small water storage projects aimed at creating new sources of water for communities in the West. Surface water and groundwater storage are critical tools for managing limited water supplies, which are increasingly strained by climate change. These projects aim to enhance water management flexibility, improve supply reliability, and bolster community resilience.
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Secretary Haaland highlights species conservation success during Arizona visit
Secretary Haaland Celebrates Major Accomplishment for Species Conservation, Highlights President’s Investing in America Agenda in Arizona