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

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 Oregon. Across its Bureaus, the Department will invest $48.6 million in Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon include:

Bureau of Land Management – $31 million in funding

• Numerous construction projects such as making use of solar energy at the Salem District Office with a photovoltaic system retrofit and water well drilling in the South Gerber Recreation Area
• Multiple projects including habitat restoration, trails maintenance, and deferred maintenance
• Remediation of abandoned mines
• Roads and bridges maintenance

Bureau of Indian Affairs – $5.7 million in funding

• Roads and bridges maintenance
• Workforce training

Fish & Wildlife Service – $5.5 million in funding

• Miami wetlands restoration implementation in Tillamook Bay
• Replacement of fish passage and screens at Grain Camp, Busse, Sodhouse, and Dunn Dams
• Construction of a power line under Brandon Marsh tidal marsh habitat restoration area

Bureau of Reclamation – $4.9 million in funding

• Modifications and improvements to system facilities to improve the efficiency of water delivery through the Umatilla Project
• Deschutes ecosystem restoration, projects to improve water quality and provide habitat

National Park Service – $1 million in funding

• Installation of central energy management systems to balance heating and reduce energy consumption at Crater Lake National Park
• Multiple projects at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park such as rehabilitating south slough loop trail and resurfacing trails

U.S. Geological Survey – $465,000 in funding

• Volcano monitoring at Cascades Volcano Observatory and upgrades in the National Volcano Early Warning System
• Deferred Maintenance
• Streamgage upgrades

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 in Oregon, please click here: http://recovery.doi.gov/OR