This Week at Interior August 25, 2023

This Week at Interior

President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Maui, Hawai'i
this week in the wake of devastating fires that have destroyed so
many lives and livelihoods. Interior has mobilized its support as
part of the all-of-government response to the disaster. Among
those efforts: the Department is coordinating closely with the
Native Hawaiian Community; the National Park Service and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service created a joint firefighter team to
support on the ground efforts; and the Department’s Office of
Environmental Policy and Compliance is working with state and nongovernmental organizations to help identify natural and historical
artifacts that suffered damage as well as address concerns over
traditional cultural sites.

Interior this week announced the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management’s approval of the Revolution Wind project. Located
about 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island,
the project will have an estimated capacity of 704 megawatts of
clean energy, capable of powering nearly 250,000 homes. The
approval – the fourth of the Biden-Harris administration -- marks
another step in fulfilling the President's goal to deploy 30
gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030.

Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau and White House
Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu were in
Alaska this week. They highlighted how historic resources from
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda are supporting
Tribal communities impacted by climate change and advancing
co-stewardship and salmon conservation across the Yukon,
Kuskokwim and Norton Sound Region.

Marking the third anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
-- or GAOA – this month, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Policy, Management and Budget Joan Mooney paid a visit to the
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument in the
nation’s capital. The National Monument is reopening after a twoyear closure, thanks to GAOA funding for major renovations. That
comes just in time for the celebration of Women's Equality Day
on August 26th.

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton
traveled to Stockholm, Sweden this week to participate in World
Water Week – an international gathering of government officials,
scientists, and water policy experts focused on addressing
drought and water scarcity around the world. Her visit highlighted
the Department’s work to address the drought crisis afflicting the
Western United States, which is being worsened by the climate
crisis. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Annalise
Blum also delivered remarks ahead of a U.S. Geological Survey
panel discussing cutting-edge science and technical tools being
used to advance our understanding of global water challenges
and the climate crisis.

Happy 107th birthday to the National Park Service! Interior this
week announced that visitor spending in communities near
national parks in 2022 resulted in a record high $50.3 billion
benefit to the nation’s economy, while also supporting nearly
380,000 jobs. Nearly 312 million people visited national parks last
year.

Interior this week announced new measures to enhance worker
safety and ensure offshore oil and gas operations on the Outer
Continental Shelf are conducted with the utmost safety and
oversight standards. The final well control rule from the Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement builds upon the historic
regulatory reforms implemented in the aftermath of the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Interior's Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance this
week unveiled the winners of this year's Environmental
Achievement Awards. The awards recognize employees and
partners who have made exceptional contributions through
projects in eight categories aimed at fostering the protection and
preservation of cultural and environmental resources. 

And our social media Picture of the Week, this fuzzy little
American marten at Yellowstone National Park. But don’t let the
sweet face fool you – the marten can be aggressive and
territorial, with short legs and curved claws that help them climb
trees and chase their prey, like squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits.

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That's This Week at Interior.