U.S. Department of Interior
U.S. Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | Federal Agencies
Recent News About U.S. Department of Interior
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WASHINGTON — As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s agreement to restore wild salmon in the Columbia River Basin, the Department of the Interior released a report today documenting the historic, ongoing, and cumulative impacts of federal Columbia River dams on Columbia River Basin Tribes. The report provides recommendations for how the federal government can further its treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribes by acknowledging and integrating these impacts in future actions. This marks the first comprehensive detailing by the U.S. government of the harms inflicted by...
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RENO, Nev. — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis announced a $142 million investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to enhance drought resilience and boost water supplies nationwide as part of the Investing in America agenda. The selected projects are expected to provide approximately 40,000 acre-feet of annual recycled water, sufficient to support over 160,000 people annually.
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LAS VEGAS — Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis visited Las Vegas today to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s progress in meeting President Biden’s clean energy goals. She joined Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Director Jon Raby to announce the completion of the final environmental analysis of the proposed Greenlink West Transmission Project. This project involves transmission lines connecting Reno and Las Vegas, aiming to deliver clean energy from the Nevada desert to the Western electric grid. If completed, it could transmit up to 4 gigawatts of...
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expand offshore wind opportunities and address the climate crisis while creating jobs, the Department of the Interior announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Maryland to support wind energy generation offshore.
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The Department of the Interior announced today an initial $700 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for long-term water conservation projects across the Lower Colorado River Basin. This investment aims to save more than 700,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead and will fund various projects such as water distribution structures, advanced metering infrastructure, farm efficiency improvements, canal lining, turf removal, groundwater banking, desalination, recycling water, and water purification. These initiatives are critical for enhancing the...
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The Department of the Interior announced today that nearly $725 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is available to 22 states and the Navajo Nation for reclaiming abandoned mine lands (AML). This funding aims to create jobs and stimulate economic opportunities while addressing environmental issues caused by past coal mining activities. The funds are part of an $11.3 billion AML investment provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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WASHINGTON — The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture have announced a proposed investment of $2.8 billion for fiscal year 2025 through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to protect and sustain public lands and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools. Projects are planned across all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and multiple U.S. territories.
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WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a joint memo to federal agency leaders with wildfire responsibilities, outlining their vision and goals for managing wildland fires this year. The memo highlights fire management investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and other strategic priorities aimed at reducing wildfire risk, restoring ecosystems, engaging in post-fire recovery, supporting the wildland fire workforce, and making communities more resilient to fire.
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The Department of the Interior has announced that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) will allocate $130 million in fiscal year 2024 for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to address legacy pollution while creating jobs and economic opportunities in coalfield communities.
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In celebration of Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day on June 1, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the designation of four new national recreation trails in four states, adding 33.5 miles to the National Trails System. These newly designated trails join a network of more than 1,300 existing national recreation trails found across every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.