Snowmobile
Ruling
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The final rule
to implement the March 2003 Record of Decision (ROD)
for winter use of snowmobiles in Grand Teton and Yellowstone
National Parks will become effective December 17, 2003.
Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife
and Parks says the decision strikes a balance between
environmental and business concerns. (text)
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The foundation of the rule
is the Adaptive Management Program. Snowmobile use can
be adjusted to ensure that the goals of the decision
are met. (text)
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Craig Manson
says that the rule represents a partnership between
the park and the community, as the economic livelihoods
of so many types of business depend on strong winter
use of the parks. (text) |
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Manson says
that the Adaptive Management Program is the first of
its kind and will be a benefit to the environment. (text) |
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Coastal
Grants
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The grants, which
have more than tripled over the last three years, represent
the administrations commitment to conservation. (text)
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Secretary Norton says the
grants will help build a healthier America for future
generations. (text)
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:14 |
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The coastal grants
represent successful partnerships with and empowerment
of states, local communities, tribes, sportsmen and
conservation groups to create conservation projects.
(text) |
:16 |
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Craig Manson,
the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
calls cooperative conservation a proven approach for
the new century.(text) |
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Grazing
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The Department
of the Interior and its Bureau of Land Management has
announced details of a proposed grazing rule aimed at
improving grazing management and helping to continue
ranching in the rural West. Click here for the complete
story with comments from Interior Secretary Gale Norton.
(text)
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Secretary Norton says it
is important to the help ranchers stay on the land.
(text)
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Norton explains
that one of the provisions of the new rule will encourage
permanent range improvements. (text) |
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Norton says
the proposed rule is meant to give the ranching business
stability in hopes of helping ranchers stay on the land.
(text) |
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Ranching keeps
habitats alive and is beneficial to wildlife.
(text) |
:28 |
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President
Bush Signs Healthy Forest Restoration Act
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President Bush
has signed the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. Ron Tull
reporting. (text)
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President Bush says that
the Act is based on science and more importantly, the
experience of the firefighters themselves. (text) |
:20 |
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Some forests
have burned down while decisions were being made on
how to save them. The President says the Healthy Forest
Restoration Act will ask courts to weigh the benefits
of long-term litigation. (text)
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Fuels reduction
by forest thinning will be an important component of
the act. (text) |
:18 |
Deep
Shelf Gas
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New studies show
that natural gas may be far more abundant in the deep
shelf area of the Gulf of Mexico than originally forecast.
Johnnie Burton, Director of the Department of the Interior's
Minerals Management Service announcedthe news in Houston
Wednesday. (text)
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The new forecast could yield
up to 35 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. (text) |
:18 |
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The Minerals
Management Service requires oil and gas producers to
use best technology available in order to receive drilling
rights.(text) |
:07 |
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Studies estimate
that the resources available on the shelf may be 175
percent more than first thought. (text) |
:10 |
2003 U.S.- Mexico
Binational Commission, Working Group on Natural Resources
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Secretary Norton
and Mexico's Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources,
Alberto Cardenas, Agree to Extend Wildfire Protection
Agreement for Additional Ten
Years. |
:49 |
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Binational Species Conservation
continues with Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico Program. |
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La Secretaria
Norton y el Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos
Naturales, Alberto Cardenas, Amplían Convenio
Para la Prevención de Incendios Forestales por
10 Años Adicionales. |
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La Conservación
Bilateral de Especies Continua con a través del
programa Vida Silvestre sin Fronteras-México. |
1:07 |
BANKING ON NATURE
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A report entitled “Banking
on Nature” show’s that the nation’s
wildlife refuges have a positive impact on the economy
of the communities that surround them. (text) |
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The refuge system is a high
priority for the President Bush. He requested a $402 million
budget for 2004, a 25 percent increase. (text) |
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More than 35.5 million people
visited the nation’s 540 refuges. Nearly every American
lives within a one hour drive from a refuge.(text) |
:17 |
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton signs a historic agreement that settles long-standing disputes among California water agencies and fulfills a solemn promise the state made more than 70 years ago to limit its use of Colorado River water.
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Assistant Secretary for Water
and Science Bennett Raley says the agreement clears
for market based transfers and other tools need to meet
the water needs of the area.(text) |
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Bennett Raley says the historical
significance cannot be understated. (text) |
:18 |
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The Quantification Settlement
Agreement will ease pressure on Northern California
to send more water south. The allocation will provide
water for growing cities and address the environmental
concerns of the Salton Sea. (text) |
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15 individuals and groups were recognized as model volunteers under the Take Pride in America campaign, which encourages citizen stewardship of public lands and resources. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton presented the awards in a roof-top at the Department of the Interior. "These winners represent the epitome of good citizenship," said Secretary Norton.
The winners were selected in six categories, including youth groups, constituent organizations, educational institutions, individuals, public/private partnerships and business.
Marti Allbright is the Director of Take Pride in America and describes the impact these volunteers made on America's landscapes.
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Camdenton Middle School 8th
Grade, Camdenton Mo. Learned that volunteerism leaves
more than a good feeling as they restored two acres
of glade and savannah landscape in the Hahatonka State
Park. (text)
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Chico Junior High School
Chico, Calif. Conducted nine different field studies
in their restoration project in the Sacramento National
Wildlife Refuge. (text) |
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In the youth category, 19
kids from Spearfish Middle School in Spearfish, S.D.
put in nearly 2,400 volunteer hours as "Hatchery Helpers."
Allbright says they did everything. (text)
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Venture Crew 220 is a co-ed
group sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America in Van
Nuys, Calif. They put in 12,000 volunteers and trained
other youth organizations how to make a difference.
(text) |
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One volunteer can make a
difference, two can leave a legacy. Clay and Dixie Gatchel
of Puyallup, Wash have been volunteers at Mount Rainer
since 1985. The Gatchels became volunteer coordinators
in 1992 and enlisted nearly 500 volunteers. (text)
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:15 |
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Park rangers say "Diane
Novakowski is like one of the staff." The Flint, Mich.
native has put in more than 10,000 hours of volunteer
service at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.
(text)
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Rescuing a fish from the
endangered species list is just another one of the amazing
things that volunteerism can do. Joe and Betty White
of White River, Ariz. did just that, playing an important
role in the rearing of Apache Trout. (text)
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In the Partnership Category
the Denali Mountaineering Volunteers of Denali Park,
Alaska are VIPs, Volunteers In Parks that is. (text)
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New York Restoration Project
New York, N.Y. founded by singer Bette Midler has reclaimed
parks and community gardens on the city's waterfront.
(text) |
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Volunteer for Outdoor Colorado
headquartered in Denver, Colo. partnered with the U.S.
Forest Service for projects in the four of the state's
national forests. Their work on trails and vegetation
will benefit outdoorsmen for years to come. (text)
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In the Business Category,
Salt River Tubing and Recreation Inc. of Mesa, Ariz.
handed out trash bags and inspired its customers to
pick up trash while they enjoyed the river. (text)
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Constituent organizations
happen when large groups of people get together for
a cause. Allbright says Wally Byam Caravan Club International
could be called "Take Pride in Pennsylvania." (text) |
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The Pymatuning Lake Association
Espyville, Pa. is dedicated to the conservation of more
than 1,700 acres of water resources. (text)
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Hillsboro, Ore. Has an army
of 80,000 volunteers on its side called SOLV. They've
been combating litter and vandalism since 1969. (text)
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:09 |
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The Massachusetts Community
Water Watch Boston, Mass. Keeps an eye on water quality
while educating schoolchildren on water issues. (text)
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Secretary Norton Provides Training Grants to the International Association of Fire Chiefs
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Interior Secretary signs
cooperative agreement with the International Association
of Fire Chiefs. The President of the association, Pasadena
Fire Chief Ernie Mitchell, says the agreement will enhance
the ability of local fire departments to team up with
state and federal agencies during wildland fires. (text) |
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Nearly $130,000 in funds
will be provided throughout fiscal year 2004 through
the National Fire Plan. But one Fire Chief Says that
it's the cooperation and acknowledgement from the Federal
Government that is most significant. (text) |
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President of the International
Association of Fire Chiefs and Fire Chief of Pasadena
Fire Department, Ernie Mitchell, means local fire departments
will be treated as partners. (text) |
:12 |
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Needham Fire Chief Robert
DiPoli says the agreement means putting federal resources
in the hands of first responders. (text) |
:16 |
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Redland Lodge Fire Chief
Tom Kuntz says the end result of the agreement is that
it will reduce wildland fire losses. (text) |
:12 |
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The Tamarisk or Salt Cedar
tree is a thirsty invasive species. The nearly 1.5 million
acre infestation annually consumes enough water to supply
20 million. The Interior testified in support of two
Senate bills that would work to eradicate the species.
(text) |
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Cooperation is essential
in the effort control the spread of Tamarisk. The Department
of the Interior is forming partnerships with everyone
from the private landowner to NASA. (text) |
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Senate bill 1236 is called
the Tamarisk Control and Riparian Restoration Act and
senate bill 1516 is called the Salt Cedar Control Demonstration
Act. Both have the goal of making more water available.
(text) |
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Dupont and The Conservation Fund to Donate 5,000 Acres to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
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Dupont gives 15,568 acres
to the Conservation Fund which in turn will give 5,000
acres to the Fish and Wildlife Service, making the way
for new habitat for endangered and threatened species.
(text) |
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The Fish and Wildlife Service
applauds the company. The agreement means that Dupont
has given up mineral rights to the land. (text) |
1:05 |
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Southeast Regional Director
for Fish and Wildlife Service, Sam Hamilton, points
out that the Okefenokee is important to the St. Mary's
and the Suwannee Rivers. (text) |
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Hamilton hopes that the land
will eventually become a habitat for the Red Cockaded
Woodpecker. (text) |
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Before the threat of mining
the swamp survived other threats. (text)
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Sam Hamilton calls Dupont's
actions a gift to the American people. (text) |
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National Park Service Director Fran Mainella addresses Competitive Sourcing in testimony to Senate Subcommittee on National Parks
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National Park Service Director
Fran Mainella explained that the process is part of
the President's management agenda. (text)
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Before a position is considered
for review, it is first decided if the function is inherently
governmental or commercial. Park Rangers are not being
considered. (text)
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The National Park Service
has more than 20,000 federal employees. Only a small
percentage, 1,708 positions, are being reviewed for
competitive sourcing. The service is halfway through
the process without losing any people.
(text) |
:12 |
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National Park Service Director
Fran Mainella says the 859 full-time equivalent positions
were converted to contracts without losing any jobs
through a combination of eliminating new positions and
vacancies.
(text) |
:15 |
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OSM Good Neighbor Award Recipients
The Office of Surface Mining gives out awards each year recognizing how companies perform. This year three coal operators we're recognized for being good corporate citizens. The GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD is a new award and each winner was presented theirs by a member of the local community where they mine.
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Mining in and around areas
of two distinct Indian reservations is a culturally
sensitive task requiring open communication. Peabody
Western Coal achieved the Gold award as a good neighbor
to Navajo and Hopi Indian tribes in Arizona.(text) |
:57 |
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The Silver award went to
the Vigo Coal Company in Boonville, Indiana. They worked
with local citizens to stop a flood problem and established
a 45 acre wetland in the process. (text) |
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The Bridgeview Coal Company
in Farmington, Pennsylvania received the Bronze award.
The members of the family owned and operated company
have a personal stake in the effect of mining on the
community because they live there too. (text) |
:55 |
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During reclamation of lands
south of Monument Valley, the Peabody Coal Company made
a rare herb part of their reclamation plan after meeting
with tribal medicine men. (text) |
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Being a good neighbor isn't
something that OSM can regulate, but they certainly
encourage it. (text) |
:10 |
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Wharton Township official
Jack Lewis says the Bridgeview Coal Company has left
behind land that they can be proud of. (text) |
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Secretary Norton addresses U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Natural Gas exploration
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35 percent of U.S. natural
gas production comes from lands managed by the Interior
Department. Secretary Gale Norton addressed business
leaders at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington
DC where she emphasized that consultation is an important
part of land use decisions on energy development. (text) |
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Secretary of the Interior
Gale Norton and U.S. Chamber of Commerce examined the
impact of increased natural gas prices on farming and
industry.
(text) |
1:00 |
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The Interior Secretary says
a reliable source of natural gas is needed to keep jobs
in America. (text) |
:10 |
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Natural gas has many uses
in farming, including the production of ethanol. (text) |
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Secretary Norton emphasizes
that rigorous environmental regulation accompanies every
stage of oil and gas exploration. (text) |
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The Interior Department has awarded $12.9 million in cost-share grants under President Bush's Cooperative Conservation Initiative. The grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service will be added to matching funds from more than 700 partners for a total of more than $35 million.
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The Interior Department has
awarded $12.9 million in cost-share grants under President
Bush's Cooperative Conservation Initiative. The money
will be combined with matching funds from challenge
grants to work on 256 conservation and restoration project.
(text) |
1:00 |
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Assistant Secretary Craig
Manson says the projects will have a positive impact
on future generations. (text) |
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The matching funds come from
a diverse group of more than 700 partners across 40
states and Puerto Rico according to Manson. (text) |
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The projects range from restoring
wetland prairie habitat to eradicating invasive plants.
Manson says without the Cooperative Conservation Initiative,
the projects may not have happened. (text) |
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Redmond, Oregon Hosts House Field Hearing on Forest Restoration Act
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A house resource committee
report called "America's most threatened forests" ranks
Oregon's Siskiyou National Forest as number eight out
of twelve. With that in mind the House Resource Committee
will hold a field hearing at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds
Monday on H.R. 1904, The Healthy Forest Restoration
Act. (text) |
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Three panels of experts will
testify on reducing the threat of wildfires. Ed Shepard,
an Assistant Director in the Bureau of Land Management
says they will also address concerns on how much contractors
can take while thinning dense forests. (text) |
:13 |
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Last year fires burned the
habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl, this year it is
threatening the habitat of the Sage Grouse. (text)
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:08 |
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Ed Shepard, an Assistant
Director in the Bureau of Land Management says that
several areas of Oregon have a high fire threat due
to overgrown forest. (text)
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:16 |
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Secretary Norton Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act at Western Gulf of Mexico Lease
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Secretary of the Interior
Gale Norton celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) by opening the 100th
offshore oil and gas lease sale conducted in the Gulf
of Mexico. The Outer Continental Shelf is a critical
source of energy. (text)
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1:06 |
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In addition to providing
energy, the offshore energy industry provides thousands
of jobs. And according to Tom Readinger, the Associate
Director for Offshore Minerals Management, the industry
has a sound environmental record. (text)
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1:05 |
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The lease sale marked the
100th for the Gulf of Mexico, the nation's primary source
of offshore energy. (text) |
:09 |
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Royalty revenues for 2002
totaled over $6 billion. A portion of the money goes
to federal parks and recreation programs in all 50 states.
(text)
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:16 |
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The offshore energy industry
has an economic impact with both the product and the
jobs it provides. (text) |
:08 |
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BIA Funded Schools Gear Up for New Year
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Assistant Secretary for Indian
Affairs Aurene Martin discusses improvements in program
management for BIA funded schools as well as post secondary
education. (text)
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1:04 |
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Meeting the goals of the
Bush Administrations's "No Child Left Behind" act presents
both federal and state challenges for tribal educators
and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (text)
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1:07 |
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Assistant Secretary Martin
says management and communication are improving in the
BIA funded school system. (text)
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:14 |
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In BIA funded schools, regulations
are developed through negotiated rule making with tribal
educators and representatives throughout the country.
(text)
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:16 |
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BIA funded schools also
adhere to state regulations. The schools are located
in 23 states serving nearly 48,000 students. (text)
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:17 |
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Assistant Secretary Martin
wants to examine post secondary education to better
prepare Native Americans for careers in the BIA and
community. (text) |
:12 |
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Calls for Wildlife Grant Proposals from Indian Tribes
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service announced its first-ever call for funding proposals
from federally-recognized Indian tribes under the new
Tribal Landowner Incentive Program and Tribal Wildlife
Grants program. Steve Williams, Director of the Fish
and Wildlife Service, says the two programs are part
of an ongoing partnership between the Service and America's
tribes.
(text) |
:16 |
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Williams said the grant proposals
will give the Service a closer look at tribal priorities
and give tribes help in affecting land management. (text) |
:17 |
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The Tribal Landowner Incentive
Grants Program, as authorized by Congress, provides
$3.97million in a competitive grant program for federally-recognized
Indian tribes to address protection, restoration, and
management of habitat. (text) |
:12 |
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At least 25 percent of the
costs associated with each funded project must be covered
by non-federal funds. The $9.97million Tribal Wildlife
Grant Program, as authorized by Congress, is also competitive.
(text) |
:13 |
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Only federally-recognized
Indian tribes are eligible to apply for. Although matching
funds are not required for Tribal Wildlife grants, they
are considered an indicator of tribal commitment to
the project. Proposals for funding for both Tribal Landowner
Incentive grants and Tribal Wildlife grants must be
submitted by September 11, 2003 to the appropriate U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service's regional office. (text)
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:19 |
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