Office of Management and Budget

U.S. Department of the Interior


www.doi.gov

  • 2010 Budget:  $12.008 billion
  • Enacted 2009:  $11.141 billion

The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to our nation’s natural and cultural heritage, honoring our past while helping to create new opportunities for the future.  Through the Interior Department, we honor our trust responsibilities to Indian Tribes and our commitments to island communities. 

The budget includes $12 billion for Interior, with initiatives to:  protect and preserve America's national parks and public lands; conserve wetlands and wildlife habitat; strengthen Native American communities; enhance outdoor opportunities for young people; and promote energy security with a focus on clean renewable sources and strategies to address climate change.  The budget supports programs to expand environmental education activities, strengthens Native American communities through increased funding for law enforcement and education, promotes renewable energy programs on Federal lands and waters, and creates a new contingent funding reserve to anticipate costs for catastrophic wildfires.  The budget includes proposals to encourage the responsible development of federal oil and gas resources and to ensure that taxpayers receive a fair return from the sale of these assets.

OUR NATION’S NATURAL RESOURCES

  • Protects national parks. The President is committed to preserving our national parks, with a $134 million increase in park operations to protect the investments made through the Recovery Act and maintain facilities and natural resources.  An additional $25 million will provide matching funds to leverage private donations in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
  • Conserves new lands.  The budget increases Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding for DOI by $95 million, bringing the total request for the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior up to $420 million in 2010 and putting the Administration on track to fully fund LWCF programs at $900 million by 2014.
  • Establishes a dedicated reserve fund to fight wildfires.  In addition to fully funding the 10-year average for wildfire suppression operations, the budget establishes a $75 million discretionary contingent reserve fund for emergency wildfire suppression, which, coupled with program reforms, will improve wildfire operations and promote safe, cost-effective and accountable results from investments made in managing fire on landscapes. 
  • Conserve Western water.  The Bureau of Reclamation will award cost-shared challenge grants on a competitive basis for eligible projects and activities to assist local communities in obtaining and conserving water.   In addition, the Bureau’s water reuse and recycling program (Title XVI) will provide financial and technical assistance to local water agencies for the planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse.  Additional conservation activities, such as voluntary water banks, wastewater treatment, and other market-based conservation measures, will also be part of the effort.  

A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

  • Invests in a clean energy future.  The budget includes more than $50 million in increases to conduct the environmental evaluations and technical studies needed to spur development of renewable energy projects, assess available alternative resources, and mitigate the impacts of development on Federal lands and waters.
  • Assesses and responds to the impact of climate change on wildlife. The budget includes increases of more than $130 million, of which $40 million is shared with the states for wildlife adaptation.  Additionally, the budget increases funds by $10 million for North American Wetlands Conservation activities to acquire, restore, or protect wetlands used by migratory waterfowl and other birds.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND A BETTER RETURN TO TAXPAYERS

  • Provides a better return to taxpayers from mineral development.  The public receives more than $12 billion annually from fees, royalties, and other federal payments related to oil, gas, coal, and other mineral development.  Yet, that return could be improved by charging appropriate fees and reforming how royalties are set. 
  • Encourages youth education and involvement. The budget provides an increase of $30 million to help states and DOI bureaus establish creative new programs and strategies to encourage young people and minority populations to responsibly hunt and fish.  The funding also provides $20 million for internships to develop environmental awareness and resource management skills. 

STRENGTHENS NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

  • Increases funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  The President’s budget includes more than $161 million in increased funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including significant increases for law enforcement and education.