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President Obama, Secretary Salazar Mark Interior’s 160th Anniversary
March 4, 2009
President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar marked the 160th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior on March 3 during a ceremony held in the Main Interior Building in Washington, DC. In addition to the 600 employees who packed the auditorium to watch the event, Department employees around the nation watched via satellite broadcast or listened via teleconference bridge. The Department was established on March 3, 1849.

President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar mark the 160th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior in a ceremony at Interior Headquarters. Credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC

President Obama's Remarks

Secretary Salazar's Remarks

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Protecting Our Wildlife Heritage

President's 2010 Budget Released
February 26, 2009
The President's 2010 Budget includes funding for assessment of climate change impacts on wildlife, youth opportunities, habitat and wildlife conservation.

Airport Marsh at Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

News Release

Protecting the Nation's Wildlife Resources

Caviar Dealer Sentenced for Smuggling Paddlefish Roe
February 26, 2009
A Florida caviar dealer will spend 18 months in Federal prison and he and his company must pay $300,000 in fines for illegally exporting American paddlefish caviar from the United States to Belgium. The defendants, who were convicted on felony conspiracy and wildlife charges stemming from a Service investigation, must also forfeit $122,000 worth of roe.

American paddlefish Credit: USFWS

News Release

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction

Skull Collector Fined for Wildlife Violations
February 26, 2009
A Georgia man was fined $15,000 for buying the carcass of an endangered snow leopard and illegally possessing more than 45 skulls of protected wildlife in his private collection. He must also forfeit these items, which included skulls of such endangered animals as sea turtles, tigers, grizzly bears and apes as well as protected migratory birds.

Illegal wildlife skulls seized during the Service investigation. Credit: USFWS

News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation

Recovery Act an investment in conservation and communities
February 23, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will receive $290 million under the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009--an investment that will create local jobs, address critical conservation needs and help strengthen the agency's infrastructure for the 21st century. The Act provides funding for deferred maintenance, construction, and capital improvement projects on National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries and for high priority habitat restoration projects. It also provides funding for construction, reconstruction, and repair of roads, bridges, property, and facilities and for energy efficient retrofits of existing facilities.

News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
$740 Million Goes to States for Fish and Wildlife Projects
February 23, 2009
Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today more than $740.9 million will be distributed to the fish and wildlife agencies of the 50 states, commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and territories to fund fish and wildlife conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education.

News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
New Report Documents Wetlands Loss in Eastern U.S.
February 17, 2009
This report is the result of a cooperative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

News Release

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National Wetlands Inventory

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Coral Smuggler Arrested
February 17, 2009
A Service investigation has secured the indictment and arrest of a German national accused of smuggling more than 40 tons of coral from the Philippines to the United States. Corals are protected under international treaty and Philippine law.

News Release

Protecting the Nation's Wildlife Resources
Company, Owner Plead Guilty in Service/State Striped Bass Trafficking Case
February 13, 2009
A Washington D.C. seafood company, its owner and an employee have pleaded guilty to federal felony charges for the illegal purchase and sale of striped bass. Collectively, the three agreed to pay more than $200,000 in fines and restitution. News Release

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Interior Funding in Economic Recovery Act Would Create 100,000 Jobs
February 10 2009
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senator Benjamin Cardin and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman John Sarbanes visited Patuxent Research Refuge and Wildlife Research Center in Maryland to highlight the job creation and conservation benefits of President Obama’s economic recovery plan, which is currently before Congress.

News Release

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Salazar Promotes Economic Benefits of Conservation Investments in Visit to Rocky Mountain Arsenal
February 3, 2009
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, accompanied by regional Service leadership and staff, toured the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver, Colorado on Friday, January 30, to get a first-hand look at one of the nation's premier urban wildlife refuges and learn more about planned conservation projects at the refuge and throughout Colorado that would boost the nation's economy.

News Release