Secretary Salazar Announces Department of the Interior Economic Stimulus Projects in Mississippi

Washington, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the Department of the Interior's projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for Mississippi. Across its Bureaus, the Department will invest $13million in Mississippi as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.

“As the steward of America's resources, our Department has a unique responsibility to carry out its mission in a transparent, open manner by arriving at policy decisions based on public input and ‘best science' practices,” said Secretary Salazar. “After a rigorous process of identifying merit-based projects that truly reflect the longstanding mission and priorities of our Bureaus, I am confident these investments meet the highest standards and will accomplish the goals as outlined by President Obama.”

DOI's ARRA investments in Mississippi support President Obama and Secretary Salazar's ambitious goals to build America's new energy future, to protect and restore our treasured landscapes, to create a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, to address America's water challenges, and to empower Native American communities.

Highlights of Initiatives funded through ARRA in Mississippi include:

National Park Service – $6.5 million in funding

• Multiple projects to rehabilitate or repair roads, grounds and facilities at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Vicksburg National Military Park, Natchez National Historical Park and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

Bureau of Indian Affairs – $3.3 million in funding

• Construction, roads and bridges maintenance
• Workforce training

Fish & Wildlife Service – $2.5 million in funding

• Multiple projects that will benefit the Dahomey, Morgan Brake, Panther Swamp, St. Catherine Creek and Teddy Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuges and the Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery.

Bureau of Land Management – $495,000 in funding

• Tails and construction at the Jupiter Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

U.S. Geological Survey – $190,000 in funding

• Deferred maintenance statewide upgrade of streamgages through purchase of high data rate satellite radios.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior's Inspector General to ensure that the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency that President Obama has set.

For a complete list of projects in Mississippi, please click here: http://recovery.doi.gov/MS