This Week: Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement is part of the response to the Southern California oil spill; Secretary Haaland takes part in listening sessions as Interior continues to mark Hispanic Heritage Month; Interior announces $348 million for 62 projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin; a forum took place for Bureau of Indian Education students and families addressing COVID-19 vaccinations and a safe in-person educational environment; U.S. Geological Survey scientists are keeping a watchful eye during the latest eruption of Hawai'i's Mount Kīlauea volcano; the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program awards more than $900,000 to its preservation partners across the country; Vice President Harris kicks off the Combined Federal Campaign, the official workplace giving campaign for federal employees and retirees; and we head to Glacier National Park for our social media Picture of the Week!
BSEE Part of Unified Command Managing Oil Spill in California
Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement is part of the unified command responding this week to an oil spill off the coast of Orange County, California. BSEE shares responsibility for managing the pipeline with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the California State Fire Marshal and the California Department of Conservation. While the U.S. Coast Guard is leading containment and cleanup efforts, BSEE, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other Interior offices are assisting in the response.
Secretary Haaland Meets with Hispanic Leaders During Hispanic Heritage Month
Secretary Haaland took part in two listening sessions this week, as Interior continues to mark Hispanic Heritage Month. The first session with Hispanic and Latino elected officials included Governor of Puerto Rico Pedro P. Pierluisi. And the second session, hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens, focused on the role and presence of the Hispanic community in the conservation movement.
Interior Announces $348 Million for Lake Tahoe Basin
The Secretary this week announced $348 million for 62 projects in Nevada and the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Those projects are dedicated to recreation improvement, wildlife habitat conservation, hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention and other purposes through the sale of public lands under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.
Asst. Sec. Newland Leads BIE Forum on School Vaccinations
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland and Bureau of Indian Education Director Tony Dearman led a forum this week for students and their families, addressing COVID-19 vaccinations, and discussing the best ways to provide the safest, in-person educational environment possible. All educators at BIE schools must be fully vaccinated by October 15th. The forum was conducted in coordination with the CDC and the Indian Health Service.
USGS Scientists Monitor Eruption of Hawai'i's Mount Kīlauea
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey are keeping a watching eye this week on Hawai'i's Mount Kīlauea volcano after its latest eruption. Over the past several days, a layer of molten lava nearly 90-feet thick has accumulated at the base of the crater. The eruption is currently confined within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and USGS expects it will remain within the summit region.
The National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program awarded more than $900,000 to its preservation partners across the country this week. Among the recipients was the Fort Ticonderoga Association, which will use the funding to increase access to the National Historic Landmark known as Liberty Hill. The site was occupied and reoccupied by Continental, British, Native American and German troops throughout the Revolutionary War.
Vice President Harris kicked off the Combined Federal Campaign this week. The official workplace giving campaign for federal employees and retirees has raised more than $8.5 billion for charities and people in need for the last 60 years. Secretary Haaland is the co-chair of this year's campaign, which runs through January 15th, 2022.
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