Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that more than $1.5 billion will be distributed to local governments that qualify for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program.Hi-Res
$1.5 Billion to
State, County
Governments
in Full Funding
of Payments in
Lieu of Taxes
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced
that more than $1.5 billion will be distributed through 2012 to local governments
that qualify for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides
compensation for taxes that could not be levied on federal lands in their jurisdictions.
Under new authorization for the PILT program, state and county jurisdictions
will receive their first full PILT entitlement payments since
1994. "I am extremely pleased that these communities, which provide important
assistance in supporting federal lands, will be receiving their full compensation,"
Kempthorne said. "We appreciate their help and recognize that these local governments
provide essential services to communities across the country, including education,
transportation, firefighting and emergency response. These payments will help
to fund these critical programs." more
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne signed an order extending the authorization of Take Pride in America within the Department of the Interior through the year 2010. Hi-Res
Secretary Kempthorne Signs Order to
Continue Take Pride in America®
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne signed an order extending the authorization of Take Pride in America within the Department of the Interior through the year 2010. The program, designed to encourage volunteerism on public lands, had been set to expire on November 1, 2008. The national program strengthens public lands stewardship through strategic priorities: engaging youth in service, promoting voluntourism, and supporting beautification as an economic development strategy. more
![The United States is already the world leader in generating electricity using geothermal energy, with about 16,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity generated in 2005. Almost half of this production and 90 percent of U.S. geothermal resources occur on Federal lands. Twenty-nine geothermal power plants currently operate on Bureau of Land Management lands in California, Nevada and Utah, with a total generating capacity of 1,250 megawatts – enough to supply the needs of 1.2 million homes. [Photo by Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](images/10222008_home2.jpg)
The United States is already the world leader in generating electricity using geothermal energy, with about 16,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity generated in 2005. Almost half of this production and 90 percent of U.S. geothermal resources occur on Federal lands. Twenty-nine geothermal power plants currently operate on Bureau of Land Management lands in California, Nevada and Utah, with a total generating capacity of 1,250 megawatts – enough to supply the needs of 1.2 million homes. Hi-Res
Kempthorne Launches Initiative to Spur Geothermal
Energy and Power Generation on Federal Lands
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced a plan to make more than 190 million acres of Federal land in 12 western states available for development of geothermal energy resources, an initiative that could increase electric generation capacity from geothermal resources ten times over. “Geothermal energy will play a key role in powering America’s energy future,” Kempthorne said, “and 90 percent of our nation’s geothermal resources are found on Federal lands. Facilitating their leasing and development under environmentally sound regulations is crucial to supplying the secure, clean energy American homes and businesses need.” Under the development scenario outlined in the plan, the initiative could produce 5,540 megawatts of new electric generation capacity by 2015 -- enough to meet the power needs of 5.5 million homes. more
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett, and City Manager Pete Hernandez at the Preserve America Community recognition event on Oct 22 at Miami's City Hall. Hi-Res
Deputy Secretary Scarlett Recognizes Miami
as a Preserve America Community
Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett joined Miami Mayor Manny Diaz to celebrate the designation of Miami, Florida, as a Preserve America community. Scarlett presented a designation certificate signed by First Lady Laura Bush, Honorary Chair of Preserve America, in recognition of the community’s work to preserve, protect and celebrate the unique history and heritage it contains. “I am delighted to be in Miami to recognize the importance of heritage tourism and preservation, and the lessons of history that are made authentic and accessible through those efforts,” said Scarlett. “I’m also excited to note the designation by Secretary Dirk Kempthorne a week ago of the Freedom Tower as a National Historic Landmark," Scarlett said. "As we know, memories of Freedom Tower remain etched in the minds of many Cuban Americans who came to America and found support in the building.” more
CORRECTING THE RECORD
Myths and Realities About the
Proposed
ESA Regulations on Consultations
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 National Park Service
A much-needed makeover of Yosemite's historic Tunnel View Overlook is the first completed project of the National Park Service Centennial Initiative. more
 Bureau of Land Management
A plan to make more than 190 million acres of federal land in 12 western states available for development of geothermal energy resources could could increase electric generation capacity from geothermal resources tenfold. more
 U.S. Geological Survey
USGS research has found genetic evidence for the movement of Asian forms of avian influenza
to Alaska by northern pintail ducks, suggesting wild migratory birds may be more important carriers
of avian influenza viruses from continent to continent than previously thought. more
 Minerals Management Service
The sale of 76 billion cubic feet of natural gas
could generate $384 million in gross revenues
to be shared between U.S. and Wyoming.
more
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Applying a newly developed, ecosystem-based approach to species conservation, the Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to add 48 species found only on the island of Kauai to the federal endangered species list and designate critical habitat. more
 Bureau of Reclamation
Reclamation has awarded a $14.8 million contract to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's Weeminuche Construction Authority of Towaoc, Colo., for re-alignment of County Road (CR) 211 around Lake Nighthors as part of the Animas-LaPlata Project. more
 Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Jerold L. "Jerry" Gidner announced that he has named Michael S. Black as Regional Director of the BIA's Great Plains Regional Office in Aberdeen, S.D.
more
 Office of Surface Mining
Nearly 15,000 scientists, researchers, business leaders and government officials gathered for an international geographic information systems conference watched as OSM was recognized for its vision and leadership in using technology to make the Nation's coal mines safer for the public and to protect the environment. more
DOI Information on Avian Influenza
Visit Pandemic & Avian Flu.gov for all related federal information.
PandemicFlu.gov en Español
Readers of People, Land & Water, the U.S. Department of the Interior's news magazine, will now be able to access the publication on the Web. more
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![The United States is already the world leader in generating electricity using geothermal energy, with about 16,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity generated in 2005. Almost half of this production and 90 percent of U.S. geothermal resources occur on Federal lands. Twenty-nine geothermal power plants currently operate on Bureau of Land Management lands in California, Nevada and Utah, with a total generating capacity of 1,250 megawatts – enough to supply the needs of 1.2 million homes. [Photo by Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC]](images/10222008_home.JPG)
