Natural resources

Funding recipients include states, American Indians, and eligible counties

November 17, 2009 -- DENVER, CO – The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) today announced that it disbursed more than $10.68 billion in Fiscal Year 2009 from revenues collected from energy and mineral production on Federal and American Indian lands, including energy and mineral production on the Federal Outer Continental Shelf.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today introduced a bill aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change on resources like forests, clean water, and fish and wildlife habitat and the communities and economies that depend on these resources.

Reports from the last several seasons indicate that increasing temperatures associated with climate change are resulting in less snowpack in many regions of the country, thus changing the timing of snow-melt runoff. In New Mexico, an already arid state, this trend could be devastating.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which included an amendment by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) that will allow for water transfers to help agricultural communities in the Central Valley that have been hard hit by three years of drought. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, “This measure is a critical first step toward improving water management to help ease the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. The legislation will enable water transfers between the east and west sides of the valley, offering some much-needed relief to agricultural communities that are suffering from drought conditions.”    » read more »

Legislation Will Bolster NOAA’s Key Environmental Education Programs

October 15, 2009 -- The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, today holds a hearing to consider expansion of key environmental education and training programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) introduced the bipartisan legislation last month to improve ocean, coastal, and watershed education and literacy. H.R. 3644, which currently has 11 co-sponsors, is called the Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Regional Program and National Environmental Literacy Grant Program Act.    » read more »

Ongoing streamlining effort abolishes DNR, DEQ; transfers functions to DNRE

October 8, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued Executive Order 2009-45, creating a new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to protect and conserve Michigan's air, water and other natural resources.

The new department will assume the powers and functions of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which are abolished by the executive order. The order takes effect January 17, 2010.    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s office today commented on Georgia’s decision to appeal a definitive federal court ruling that water withdrawals from Lake Lanier to provide water supply to the Atlanta area are illegal under federal law.

Governor Riley’s Press Secretary Todd Stacy made the following statement:    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- Washington – Today, a collection of more than 600 conservation, outdoor, sportsmen, recreation and faith groups representing tens of millions of individuals all across the country called on the Senate to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also dedicates a significant portion of funding towards helping wildlife and natural resources that are currently threatened by global warming.    » read more »

$2,423,986 in grants for four Virginia projects

June 01, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today joined Congressman Bobby Scott, Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant and representatives from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency to announce federal grants awarded to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The grants, totaling $2,423,986, will fund four projects in the Commonwealth that focus on innovative techniques and technologies to address nonpoint source pollution and environmental education related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.    » read more »

28 May 2009 -- Following an assessment of natural resources north of the Arctic Circle, researchers say that a full 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas and 13% of its undiscovered oil could be found there.

The oil estimate is relatively small compared to the known reserves in major petroleum exporting countries, so researchers do not anticipate a major shift in the world's oil trade. However, they do expect the location and volume of predicted natural gas reserves inside the Arctic Circle to primarily benefit Russia.

These findings are from the first detailed, peer-reviewed, and geologically-based assessment of natural resources in that region.    » read more »

2-Year milestones to target nutrient reduction deadline of 2020

MOUNT VERNON, VA (May 12, 2009) - Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced a suite of ambitious two-year milestones to accelerate Maryland’s on-the-ground efforts to reach its current nutrient reduction goals by a newly established end date of 2020. The Governor made the announcement at the 26th meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, the multi-jurisdictional partnership that coordinates regional Bay restoration programming.    » read more »

Praises measures to create jobs, strengthen schools, ensure public safety, preserve natural resources and protect property owners

May 8, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today praised the Florida Legislature for investing in Florida’s future, including economic security and education, during the 2009 legislative session. In spite of reduced state revenues, the Legislature continued to ensure other priorties such as public safety, natural resources, and care for Florida’s most vulnerable children, disabled and elderly. In addition, the Florida Legislature approved measures that will reduce the tax burden on property owners.    » read more »

Will Create Jobs for Construction, Repairs, Inspections

May 6, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that several Connecticut lakes, rivers and other flood control areas will benefit from $5.6 million in federal stimulus funds as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ comprehensive civil works initiative that will create an immediate need for construction and maintenance jobs while preserving valuable natural and recreational resources.

“The Army Corps’ investment in Connecticut will pay tremendous environmental and economic dividends,” Governor Rell said. “These are all important flood control projects that will benefit our state for generations to come by protecting and preserving irreplaceable natural resources.”    » read more »

O’Malley celebrates Earth Day with local students, Receives Partnership for Children in Nature report & recommendations

MILLERSVILLE, MD (April 21, 2009) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley began Earth Day celebrations a day early this year, joining more than 40 third-grade students from Annapolis’ Georgetown East Elementary School for an afternoon of hands-on outdoor learning activities, including a canoe along the Severn River at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville.

The Governor took the opportunity to unveil the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, as he was presented with a recently completed report from the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature.    » read more »

Project Receives GE ecomagination Leadership Award

TEMPE, Ariz.--22 April 2009-- GE Water, a business unit of GE Energy, has recognized the city of Tempe, Ariz. with an ecomagination leadership award. Using GE technology, the city has expanded its water reclamation program, resulting in the reuse of an additional 2.5 billion gallons a year of water for commercial and industrial applications.

Tempe’s Kyrene Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) was recently upgraded with GE’s ZeeWeed Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology to improve water reuse. The facility’s capacity has been doubled from 4.5 to nine million gallons of water a day, with a peak flow of 11.7 million gallons, making it one of the largest MBR plants in North America.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $1.7 million in grants to protect and enhance Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The Governor awarded 37 grants that will be used by nonprofit organizations, as well as local, state, and tribal governments to assist with projects totaling nearly $4 million.

“The Great Lakes are an important economic, cultural and natural resource in Wisconsin,” Governor Doyle said. “Caring for Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is essential to the well-being of the state. The support to these local organizations will help us to protect our coastal resources. Because of their efforts, the integrity of our lakes will be maintained for future generations.”    » read more »