Press Release
☷This Week at Interior April 29 2022
U.S. Department of the Interior ( By Press Release office)
May 02,2022
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Transcript: This Week at Interior Secretary Haaland wrapped up her week - long visit to Alaska , celebrating the state’s national parks , public lands , and outdoor recreation economy . She traveled to Kenai Fjords National Park , where she met with Interior employees , heard about the impact of the climate crisis on the landscape , and highlighted investments to help protect the great outdoors . Nearly $100 million in funding is available this year to expand access to national parks and public lands throughout the state . In Alaska , the Secretary joined Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone - Manning to announce that Interior will open approximately 27 million acres of federal lands owed to Alaska Native Vietnam - era veterans . The land allotment program was established by the John D . Dingell , Jr . Conservation , Management , and Recreation Act of 2019 to offer land to veterans who did not have access to land allotments while serving during the Vietnam War . Secretary Haaland testified this week before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on President Biden ' s fiscal year 2023 budget . She highlighted Interior ' s key role in supporting the administration ' s effort to fight climate change , advance equity and environmental justice , and repair the nation ' s aging infrastructure . Interior ' s portion of the budget proposal totals $18 . 1 billion dollars , an increase of nearly 20 percent over 2022 . Interior this week announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will take the next steps for possible leasing off the coast of Oregon and in the Central Atlantic . Over the past year , the Biden - Harris administration and the Interior Department have launched the American offshore wind industry by approving and celebrating the groundbreaking of the nation’s first two commercial - scale offshore wind projects in federal waters . The Department also held a record - breaking New York Bight auction and announced plans to potentially hold up to seven new offshore lease sales by 2025 . These efforts help advance the Biden - Harris administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 . Secretary Haaland this week announced $95 million in funding has been approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission . The grants will be matched by more than $116 million in partner funds , providing the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners the ability to help conserve or restore more than 300 , 000 acres of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl , songbirds and other birds across North America – including Canada and Mexico . Interior this week announced updates on three renewable energy transmission and production projects: the SunZia Transmission Project , the Greenlink West Project and the Cross - Tie Project . The projects underscore the Biden - Harris administration’s commitment to accelerating the expansion and modernization of America’s power infrastructure to create good - paying , union jobs and deliver clean energy to American businesses and homeowners . The U . S . Geological Survey ' s Volcano Hazards Program this week released its new Strategic Science Plan for 2022 - 2026 . The plan outlines the program ' s top strategic goals and scientific targets for the next five years , prioritizing public safety across the nation , and minimizing social and economic disruption caused by volcanic eruptions . A 15 - year - old from South Dakota has taken home top honors at the 2022 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest . It ' s the third win for Madison Grimm , who previously won in 2013 and 2020 . Her green - winged teal will grace the 2022 - 2023 Junior Duck Stamp , which raises funds to educate and engage our nation’s youth in wildlife and wetlands conservation and outdoor recreation . And our social media Picture of the Week , a fantasy world of strange rock formations and fossils at New Mexico ' s Bisti/De - Na - Zin Wilderness , managed by the Bureau of Land Management . Here time and the elements have weathered the rocks into the form of pinnacles , spires , cap rocks and “cracked eggs . ” Make sure you follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and You Tube . That ' s This Week at Interior . 5/2/2022 This Week: Secretary Haaland wraps up her week - long visit to Alaska; Interior will open approximately 27 million acres of federal lands owed to Alaska Native Vietnam - era veterans; the Secretary testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on President Biden ' s fiscal year 2023 budget; the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will take the next steps for possible wind power leasing off the coast of Oregon and in the Central Atlantic; the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approves $95 million in funding for wetlands conservation and restoration; Interior has updates on three renewable energy transmission and production projects in the West; the U . S . Geological Survey ' s Volcano Hazards Program releases its new Strategic Science Plan; there ' s a winner in the 2022 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest; and we head to New Mexico for our social media Picture of the Week!
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