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The withdrawal does not restrict other uses of these federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, and will help to sustain commercial and recreational fisheries in the Atlantic to support fishing-dependent communities, as well as the harvest of marine resources on which many Alaska Native communities rely for subsistence use and cultural traditions.

"The Centennial Act is part of our contribution to preserve the legacy of some of our Nation’s greatest treasures for generations to come."

After an extensive and transparent public process, Interior today released final regulations to prevent or minimize impacts to surface water and groundwater from coal mining.

Over the past 8 years, BOEM has fostered offshore renewable energy development through a collaborative state-federal process to identify Wind Energy Areas and hold competitive lease sales. 

The Colorado River Basin is just one area where the Department is working with its partners to address water conservation and other water-saving strategies. Today’s WaterSMART report and data visualization tool details progress made since 2010 to improve water conservation and help water-resource managers narrow the gap between water supply and demand.

Since the Program began making offers in December 2013, more than $950 million has been paid to individual landowners and the equivalent of about 1.7 million acres of land has been transferred to Tribal governments.

Citing broad concerns from thousands of public comments and input about potential impacts of mining on the wilderness area’s watershed, fish and wildlife, and the nearly $45 million recreation economy, the agencies today took actions that denied an application for renewal of two hard rock mineral leases in the area, as well as initiated steps to withdraw key portions of the watershed from new mineral permits and leases.

Jewell joined youth conservation corps members at the American YouthWorks headquarters to make the announcement – which includes $39,000 for the Texas Conservation Corps – and to hear directly from corps members on how their service has benefited them. 

The MOU establishes specific objectives for onshore and offshore renewable energy development on federal and state lands and waters, directing Interior and California agencies to take the necessary actions to achieve these goals.