Archive

Without action from Congress, the highly successful Land and Water Conservation Fund is set to expire September 30. Jewell urged Congress to act swiftly to reauthorize the program and to pass President Obama’s proposal to guarantee permanent full funding of $900 million a year that is authorized under the law.

The RESTORE Council was created under the 2012 Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act), which directed the Council to dedicate 80 percent of all Clean Water Act penalties relating to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the fund it oversees. As a member on the Council, Interior was actively engaged in developing restoration proposals for the first draft of the Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL) of projects.

Secretary Jewell today commended President Obama for signing into law a bill that designates three new wilderness areas encompassing about 275,665 acres in Idaho as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System; releases four wilderness study areas so that the land may be managed for multiple-use activities; and provides for several land conveyances in Idaho.

The Let's Move Outside! initiative will provide two years of funding for the YMCA of Northern Utah to create a community coordinator position to facilitate collaboration, grow resources, and increase participation in outdoor programs on all public lands in Salt Lake City, from local parks to federal lands and waters. Today, Secretary Jewell announced grants totaling $258,653 to organizations throughout Utah, including the Utah Conservation Corps, Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, River Restoration Adventures for Tomorrow, and American Conservation Experience.

The formation of the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance builds on President Obama’s National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, put in place in 2014, following his Executive Order on combating wildlife trafficking. A number of companies have already adopted policies and procedures that align with the goals of the Alliance. Companies such as eBay, Facebook and Google have been helping with initial Alliance activities. 

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell issued a statement on the release of the final Clean Power Plan, a key step in the Obama Administration’s fight against climate change, calling the plan "historic progress."

Interior authorized the conversion of the school from federally operated to tribally controlled on March 23, 2015, after thoroughly evaluating the Pueblo’s application. On July 1, 2015, the Pueblo officially assumed control of Isleta Elementary School, which has about 150 students, 11 teachers and about 10 support staffers. Principal Frank Fast Wolf and education program administrator is Eileen Montoya will oversee a new school year beginning on August 10, 2015.

Deputy Secretary Connor joined Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA COO Jon Agnew, and local partners announced the selection of Philadelphia as one of the first 50 cities to participate in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Outside initiative to engage the next generation of outdoor stewards and inspire millions of young adults to experience the great outdoors.

The initiative, funded through a $5 million national commitment by the American Express Foundation, will provide two years of funding for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to create a community coordinator position to help coordinate efforts, facilitate collaboration, grow resources, and increase participation in outdoor programs on all public lands in Chicago, from local parks to federal lands and waters.