MUIRNet-News

Secretary Zinke Statement in Support of President Trump’s American Energy Executive Order

Details: Parent Category: Federal Agencies; Category: Department of Interior; Published: Wednesday, 29 March 2017 14:49; Hits: 2608

WASHINGTON - Today, President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scott Pruitt, and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced a bold American energy Executive Order that will put our nation on track to full and dominant American energy independence. The Executive Order calls on the Secretary of the Interior to review the Bureau of Land Management’s 2016 moratorium on new coal leases on federal land and also review three final rules from the Department regarding oil and gas production on both federal and private land and the outer continental shelf.

A History of California’s Budget Reserves

Details: Category: MUIRNet-News Bytes; Published: Sunday, 26 March 2017 13:54; Hits: 2300

State Passes a Budget Each Year. By June 15 of each year, the Legislature must pass, and the Governor signs, a budget for the upcoming fiscal year (which runs from July 1 to June 30). The budget includes expectations about how much the state will spend and how much revenue the state will collect over the next year. However, actual revenues and expenditures can vary from these expectations, primarily as a result of changes in the condition of the state economy. For example, if the state passes a budget in June, and then experiences a recession in December, revenues may significantly underperform expectations.

Five Fun Ways to Celebrate National Park Week

Details: Parent Category: Federal Agencies; Category: Department of Interior; Published: Sunday, 26 March 2017 13:34; Hits: 2704

WASHINGTON – Ring in spring with a visit to a national park during National Park Week, April 15 through 23. Throughout the country, hundreds of programs and events will encourage visitors to explore new places and enjoy new experiences. More information is available at www.nationalparkweek.org.

"Our National Parks are our national treasure," said Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. "My formative years were spent in Glacier National Park and one of my biggest mentors was a park ranger and football coach. The lessons you learn from the land and the park rangers cannot be learned anywhere else on earth. As we head into the next 100 years of the Park Service, I'm looking at ways to improve infrastructure and visitor experience while conserving the precious lands for generations to come."

“There are 417 national parks and each one has a story to tell,” said Acting National Park Service Director Michael F. Reynolds. “There are endless options during National Park Week to discover someplace or something out of the ordinary. Whether one seeks relaxation, exhilaration, or inspiration, there is something for everyone in a national park.”

President Trump Requests $11.6 Billion for Interior Department’s FY 2018 Budget

Details

Parent Category: Federal Agencies

Category: Department of Interior

Published: Thursday, 16 March 2017 17:10

Budget Blueprint Furthers the Administration’s Strong Support for Responsible Energy Development on Federal Lands, Protects and Conserves America’s Public Lands, and Fulfills DOI’s Trust Responsibilities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced President Trump’s $11.6 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget blueprint request for the Department of the Interior. The budget meets the Department's core mission while also saving taxpayers $1.5 billion or 12 percent reduction from the FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution level.

Linking Atmospheric Rivers to Wildfire Patterns in the Southwest

Details

Parent Category: Access Issues

Category: Climate

Published: Tuesday, 14 March 2017 12:03

This winter, parts of drought-stricken California have been besieged by heavy flooding, mudslides, and feet of snow. The cause? A meteorological phenomenon known as an atmospheric river, which carries high concentrations of water vapor in narrow bands from the warm tropics up to western North America.

In the western U.S., atmospheric rivers are relatively common and are critical providers of winter rain and snow. However, they can also be a source of extreme flooding and costly damage to transportation networks, public utilities, and other infrastructure. While the economic and social impacts of strong atmospheric rivers are well understood, we know much less about how they can impact ecosystems.