Secretary Salazar Announces Department of the Interior Economic Stimulus Projects in Utah

Washington, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the Department of the Interior's projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for Utah. Across its Bureaus, the Department will invest $118.7 million in Utah as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.

“As the steward of America's resources, our Department has a unique responsibility to carry out its mission in a transparent, open manner by arriving at policy decisions based on public input and ‘best science' practices,” said Secretary Salazar. “After a rigorous process of identifying merit-based projects that truly reflect the longstanding mission and priorities of our Bureaus, I am confident these investments meet the highest standards and will accomplish the goals as outlined by President Obama.”

DOI's ARRA investments in Utah support President Obama and Secretary Salazar's ambitious goals to build America's new energy future, to protect and restore our treasured landscapes, to create a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, to address America's water challenges, and to empower Native American communities.

Highlights of Initiatives funded through ARRA in Utah include:

Central Utah Project Completion Act – $49.7 million in funding

• Endangered species recovery
• Wetlands conservation and mitigation development
• Fishery development

Bureau of Land Management – $29.4 million in funding

• Renewable energy authorizations and permits through ecological assessments of the Colorado Plateau and wind energy permits
• Multiple projects including habitat restoration, trails maintenance, construction and deferred maintenance
• Remediation of abandoned mines
• Roads and bridges maintenance

National Park Service – $24.7 million in funding

• Repair and increase energy efficiency of exterior components at nature center and visitor shelters at Capitol Reef National Park
• Multiple projects at Zion National Park such as the installation of photovoltaic panels at park headquarters, the museum building and visitor centers and performance of critical trail repairs in Zion Canyon
• Increase efficiency and accuracy of water meters by replacing meters and automating systems in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• Several maintenance projects at Dinosaur National Monument, repairs to trails parkwide and the replacement of waterlines to prevent energy use of reservoir in Dinosaur National Monument
• Construction of a flood diversion wall at Arches National Park

Bureau of Reclamation – $10.7 million in funding

• Dam repair at the Upper Stillwater Dam, Bonneville Unit

Bureau of Indian Affairs – $3.7 million in funding

• Roads and bridges maintenance

U.S. Geological Survey – $453,000 in funding

• Deferred Maintenance
• Streamgage upgrades

Fish & Wildlife Service – $106,000 in funding

• Development of an accessible trail spur at Big Bear Migratory Bird Refuge
• Replacement of roofing at Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior's Inspector General to ensure that the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency that President Obama has set.

For a complete list of projects for Utah, please click here: http://recovery.doi.gov/UT