NATV News

Interior Department Finalizes Offshore Wind Safety and Environmental Responsibilities  

Transfer of regulations helps maintain high standards for worker safety and environmental compliance

January 17, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced the transfer of regulations governing offshore renewable energy activities – including workplace safety and environmental compliance – from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

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Assistant Secretary Trujillo Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Drought Resilience Investments in Colorado  

$5 million investment in Prairie Waters Projects to expand water supplies in Aurora  

January 13, 2023

AURORA, Colo. — Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo wrapped up a multi-day visit to Colorado today, where she highlighted investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act in drought resilience.

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Interior Department Takes Steps to Strengthen Offshore Clean Energy Development 

Proposed regulations will streamline and improve processes for offshore wind initiatives 

January 12, 2023

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will publish a proposed rule to update regulations for clean energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The proposed regulations would modernize regulations, streamline overly complex and burdensome processes, clarify ambiguous provisions and enhance compliance provisions in order to decrease costs and uncertainty associated with the deployment of offshore wind facilities. The proposed reforms are estimated to save developers approximately $1 billion over a 20 year period.

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Interior Department Completes Vote to Remove Derogatory Names from Five Locations 

Nearly 650 features were changed for federal use in September following first BGN vote 

January 12, 2023

WASHINGTON -The Department of the Interior today announced the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has voted on the remaining replacement names featuring the word sq___. In September, the Department announced the final vote for nearly 650 features, but completed an additional review for seven locations that are considered unincorporated populated places.

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Elizabeth Klein Named Director of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced that Elizabeth (Liz) Klein has been named Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). BOEM is the Interior Department’s lead bureau responsible for the management of America’s offshore energy and mineral resources. Liz succeeds Amanda Lefton, who served as the first BOEM Director in the Biden-Harris administration and announced her resignation, effective January 19, 2023.

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Secretary Haaland Establishes Orphaned Wells Program Office to Implement Historic Investments from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today issued a Secretary’s Order to establish an Orphaned Wells Program Office to ensure effective, accountable and efficient implementation of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in orphaned well clean up.

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MURKOWSKI LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LAND TRANSFER LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE ALASKA NATIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS 

The Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Transfers Act Heads to the President’s Desk

December 20, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved H.R.441, the Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Land Transfers Act of 2022. The bill contains three separate Senate land conveyance bills sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that were merged into one bill, H.R.441, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the President’s Desk.

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President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Provide an Additional $15 Million to the Oglala Dam in South Dakota

December 14, 2022

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) today announced a $15 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for repairs to the Oglala Dam on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. This investment is in addition to over $21 million allocated for the project last year, as part of a $29 million investment for dam safety programs in Tribal communities across the country.

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Deputy Secretary Beaudreau Announces $228 Million for Wildfire Mitigation and Resilience from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  

Historic funding continues to support firefighters and communities across the country 

December 14, 2022

DENVER — During a visit to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge today, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau announced $228 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support wildland fire management in fiscal year 2023. This funding is the first of several allocations to be made this year and will support continuing pay increases for federal firefighters, new training opportunities, fuels management work to reduce fire risk, burned area rehabilitation to help speed recovery after fires, and increased funding for science that will examine the impacts of climate change on fire management.

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