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The United States Government Manual
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-3100
http://www.doi.gov
| SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR | Debra A. Haaland |
| Deputy Secretary | Thomas P. Beaudreau |
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES
| Fish and Wildlife and Parks | Shannon A. Estenoz |
| Indian Affairs | Bryan T. Newland |
| Insular and International Affairs | Keone J. Nakoa * |
| Land and Mineral Management | Laura Daniel-Davis ** |
| Policy, Management and Budget | (vacancy) |
| Water and Science | Tanya M. Trujillo |
OTHER OFFICERS
| CHIEF OFFICERS | |
| Financial | (vacancy) |
| Information | June Hartley |
| DIRECTORS | |
| Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights | Alesia J. Pierre-Louis, Acting |
| Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization | Colleen Finnegan |
| Trust Funds Administration | Jerold Gidner |
| Solicitor | Robert T. Anderson |
Office of the Inspector General
| Inspector General | Mark L. Greenblatt |
The Department of the Interior protects America's heritage and natural resources, honors its cultures and tribal communities, and supplies energy for powering its future.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
On March 3, 1849, President James K. Polk approved an act that created the Department of the Interior (DOI) by transferring the Office of Indian Affairs and the General Land, the Patent, and the Pension Offices to a new department. The head of that new department was, and still is, called the Secretary of the Interior. The President appoints the Secretary by the advice of the Senate and with its consent (9 Stat. 395).
https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llsl//llsl-c30/llsl-c30.pdfThe Secretary of the Interior supervises the public business of the following agencies and subjects: Alaska Railroad, Alaska Road Commission, bounty-lands, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Reclamation, division of Territories and Island Possessions, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Indians, National Park Service, petroleum conservation, and public lands and the mines that are on those lands (43 U.S.C. 1457). The Secretary reports directly to the President.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title43-section1457&num=0&edition=prelimThe DOI was reorganized by Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950, as amended (5 U.S.C. app.).
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5a-node84-leaf107&num=0&edition=prelimA more recent reorganization created 12 unified administrative regions to improve coordination among bureaus, effectiveness of relationships with partners, and customer service. The reorganization delegated authority and accountability closer to field operations and placed a greater emphasis on local decision making. Completed on August 22, 2018, the reorganization established unified interior region boundaries that are based on watersheds and generally follow State lines to simplify coordination with external partners.
https://www.doi.gov/employees/reorg/unified-regional-boundariesThe "Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018–2022" includes the DOI's organization chart on page 6.
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/fy2018-2022-strategic-plan.pdfSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Statutory material on the establishment of the DOI, the duties of its Secretary and Deputy Secretary, and other topics that affect departmental operations and activities are codified in chapter 31, sections 1451–1476a, of 43 U.S.C.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title43/chapter31&edition=prelimRules and regulations associated with the Office of the Secretary of the Interior are codified in subtitle A, parts 1–199, of 43 CFR.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2dff2e4675b2891abcf7c9eb0078703c&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title43/43cfrv1_02.tpl#0MISSION AREAS
A set of six mission areas offers a window on DOI activities that are top priorities through the year 2022. They are discussed in detail in the "Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018–2022" on pages 15–47.
Conserving Land and Water
The DOI conserves America’s lands and waters for the benefit, enjoyment, and use of current and future generations. The DOI’s nine technical bureaus rely on the best science that is available, efficient decision-making processes, improved land use planning, modern natural resource management techniques, partnerships, and technology and engineering to balance stewardship with public lands use and the development of natural resources that are part of those lands, including fish species and wildlife.
https://www.doi.gov/stewardshipExpanding Outdoor Recreation and Access
Every year, more than 330 million people from across the country and around the world visit the national parks. Millions more visit other public lands that the DOI also manages. The DOI works to make outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands more accessible. The DOI's multiple-use policy of land management allows Americans to fish and hunt on public lands, as well as boat, camp, climb, hike, view wildlife, and engage in other outdoor activities.
https://www.doi.gov/recreationFulfilling Trust and Insular Responsibilities
The DOI upholds the U.S. Government’s unique trust responsibilities by fostering government-to-government relationships that exist between the Federal Government and federally recognized Tribes. It also upholds those responsibilities by providing services to individual American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
https://www.doi.gov/ost/whatwedo/The U.S. Government also has important relationships with the affiliated insular areas, which include the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The DOI administers and oversees Federal assistance to the three Freely Associated States, which comprise the two Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.
https://edit.doi.gov/oia/what-we-doGenerating Revenue From Utilization of Natural Resources
The DOI provides access to and manages energy resources like coal, gas, oil, and woody biomass on public lands, as well as Outer Continental Shelf energy resources like gas and oil. It also provides access to and manages other public land resources like nonenergy minerals, rangelands suitable for grazing, and timber from forests. By responsibly using public lands for extracting resources to achieve multiple use and economic benefits for the Nation, the DOI supports American energy dominance.
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/fy2019_bib_dh005.pdfModernizing Organization and Infrastructure
The DOI seeks to ensure more effective operations and service delivery through coordinated organizational alignments in the field, across bureaus, and with other Federal and non-Federal partners, and by putting a larger fraction of DOI employees in the field to serve the public. Expediting environmental analysis and compliance, reducing the cost of space, collocating offices for convenient public service and improved interagency coordination, and common regional boundaries are potential ways to modernize the DOI’s infrastructure and improve its effectiveness.
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/site-page/many-bureaus-one-mission.pdfProtecting People and the Border
Inherent in the DOI’s management responsibilities of public lands is protecting employees and visitors. Ensuring employee and public safety requires the resources of multiple bureaus and offices covering four disciplines: emergency management, law enforcement, natural hazards science, and wildland fire. Depending on the season, approximately 3,500–4,000 law enforcement officers, rangers, and other employees patrol vast areas of public lands, national parks, wildlife refuges, and Indian communities. They protect people and natural, cultural, and heritage resources from illegal activities.
The U.S. Geological Survey protects lives by monitoring natural hazards like earthquakes, environmental health hazards, landslides, and volcanoes, and by issuing warnings of their potential threat levels. Wildland fires endanger lives and damage property. The Office of Wildland Fire coordinates with the DOI’s land management bureaus and the U.S. Forest Service to prevent, respond to, and manage the damage and loss that wildfires cause. The Office of Wildland Fire also shares wildfire management responsibilities with Mexico along the southern border.
The DOI manages land on the Canadian border and the Mexican border, and the Department has a presence in the Pacific, where Americans are exposed to risk from Asia. A considerable amount of DOI land abuts Mexico. Accordingly, DOI law enforcement officers work in partnership with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Agency, and Tribal, State, and local governments, to address illegal immigration, trafficking in drugs and in guns, and to mitigate these activities' consequences, which adversely affect DOI lands and community partners.
Sources of Information
Abandoned Mines
Abandoned mine lands are lands, waters, and surrounding watersheds that extraction or beneficiation has contaminated, scarred, or done both. Beneficiation refers to the treatment (i.e., processing) of raw materials (e.g. coal, ores, and minerals) to change their chemical or physical properties. Abandoned mine lands include areas where mining or processing activity has ceased. The Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Portal is a partnership that comprises Federal, State, and local efforts to reduce the environmental and health risks of abandoned mines through awareness, education, and action. The DOI participates in the AML Portal.
https://www.abandonedmines.gov/federal-partnersArchived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that Office of the Secretary of the Interior records have been assigned to record group 048.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/048.htmlBlog
"People, Land, and Water" is the DOI's official blog.
https://www.doi.gov/blogBoarding Schools
On May 11, 2022, Secretary Debra A. Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan T. Newland released the first volume of the investigative report that is part of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive effort to address the troubled legacy of Federal Indian boarding school policies. The report lays the groundwork for addressing the intergenerational trauma that former Federal Indian boarding school policies created.
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/department-interior-releases-investigative-report-outlines-next-steps-federal-indianBureaus / Offices
The DOI employs resource-management professionals, scientists, and other experts in its nine technical bureaus.
https://www.doi.gov/bureausIn addition to the nine technical bureaus, a number of offices fall under the Offices of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary; Office of Policy, Management, and Budget; Office of the Solicitor; and Office of the Inspector General.
https://www.doi.gov/bureaus/officesBusiness Opportunities
The DOI supports the transition to a clean energy economy and stimulates local economic growth through stewardship. The DOI also procures goods and services from American businesses. The DOI relies on them for bridge, irrigation system, office building, reservoir, road, school, and other types of maintenance. More information is available from the Office of Acquisition and Property Management. Phone, 202-513-7554.
https://www.doi.gov/pamCareer Opportunities
Information to assist persons with disabilities, students and recent graduates, veterans, and others who are interested in career opportunities is available on the DOI's website.
https://www.doi.gov/joinusIn 2020, the DOI ranked 12th among 17 large agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=IN00Climate Change
Changes in climate are creating new challenges for communities and resource managers nationwide. The U.S. Geological Survey's Climate Adaptation Science Centers help managers of ecosystems, fish, and wildlife better understand the effects of these changes and strategically plan for and adapt to them.
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centersContact Information
The DOI has included an electronic feedback form on its "Contact Interior" web page. The DOI also may be contacted by email, phone, or postal correspondence. The contact information is available online.
https://www.doi.gov/contact-usDeepwater Horizon
The DOI continues to play a major role in restoration efforts associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizonDepartmental Policies
Online visitors can browse a library of DOI policies by using the search tool on the "Electronic Library of the Interior Policies" web page.
https://www.doi.gov/elips/browseFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the DOI and its subagencies have published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/interior-departmentFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Thirteen bureaus and offices support the DOI's FOIA operations. Its website features a single web page that allows convenient access to those bureaus and offices and to their electronic FOIA libraries. From the same web page, an information seeker may file a request, track the status of a request, learn about the FOIA program's structure, and review FOIA-related guidance and resources. Please note: the Department and its bureaus and offices post a great deal of information online; therefore, an information seeker should visit the appropriate electronic libraries and search for the desired information before submitting a FOIA request. That information already may be accessible, immediately and without charge.
https://www.doi.gov/foiaHistory
On March 3, 1849, the last day of the 30th Congress, a bill was passed to create a department to manage the Nation's internal development and the welfare of its people. The responsibilities of the new Department were diverse and came to include the colonization of freed slaves in Haiti, exploration of western wilderness, oversight of the District of Columbia jail, regulation of territorial governments, management of hospitals and universities, and more. To explore the rich history of the "Department of Everything Else"—just about everything else that fell outside the purview of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, War, and the Treasury—visit the "History of the Department of the Interior" web page.
https://www.doi.gov/whoweare/history"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm. The Nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value. These words belong to President Theodore Roosevelt, a man who loved the outdoors. To learn about the important role this President played in the history of American conservation, visit the "Theodore Roosevelt's Legacy" web page.
https://www.doi.gov/blog/theodore-roosevelts-legacyLibrary
The Interior Library's holdings and its reference and research services support the mission of the Department and its agencies and bureaus. Its holdings cover American history, geology, law, national parks, Native American culture and history, nature, and public lands and wildlife management. The library offers subscription databases and other online data sources that give Interior employees and external researchers nationwide access. A holdings catalog and descriptions of educational programs and training opportunities are available on the library's website. Phone, 202-208-5815.
https://www.doi.gov/library | Email: library@ios.doi.govMuseum
The Interior Museum offers exhibits on the history and mission of the Department. Programs highlight bureau management of cultural and natural resources. Museum guides conduct tours of the Interior Building's New Deal era art and architecture. Phone, 202-208-4743.
https://www.doi.gov/interiormuseumNews
The Department posts press releases online.
https://www.doi.gov/newsThe DOI posts news and headlines of the week in video format on its "Multimedia" web page.
https://www.doi.gov/news/multimediaOpen Government
The Department of the Interior supports the Open Government initiative by promoting the principles of collaboration, participation, and transparency. Beyond meeting Open Government requirements, the agency intends to create better relationships between citizens and their Government; to become better at understanding citizens' demands for services and more responsive to their needs; to accelerate the rate of innovation by leveraging public knowledge; to increase the Department's ability to carry out its mission more effectively and efficiently by transparently engaging the public in decisionmaking; and to encourage the development of Open Government programs.
https://www.doi.gov/open | Email: open@ios.doi.govPriorities
The "Our Priorities" web page lists the DOI's top priorities.
https://www.doi.gov/ourprioritiesSite Map
The website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.doi.gov/sitemapSocial Media
The DOI maintains a facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/USInteriorThe DOI tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/interiorThe DOI posts videos on its YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/USInteriorWater Conservation
The WaterSMART program improves water conservation and helps water-resource managers make sound decisions about water use. It identifies strategies to ensure that this and future generations will have sufficient supplies of clean water for drinking, economic activities, ecosystem health, and recreation. The program also identifies adaptive measures to address climate change and its effect on future water demands.
https://www.doi.gov/watersmartBureau of Indian Affairs
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-3710
http://www.bia.gov/bia
| DIRECTOR * | Darryl LaCounte |
The Bureau of Indian Affairs enhances the quality of life, promotes economic opportunity, and protects and improves the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
Secretary of War John C. Calhoun established the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on March 11, 1824, to oversee and carry out the Federal Government’s trade and treaty relations with tribes. The BIA remains the oldest Department of the Interior (DOI) component in continuous existence and one of the oldest agencies in the Federal Government. The DOI formally adopted Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the agency’s official name on September 17, 1947. Prior to that time, it was referred to as the Indian office, Indian bureau, Indian department, and Indian service.
https://www.bia.gov/about-usOn March 3, 1849, President James K. Polk approved an act that transferred the "supervisory and appellate powers now exercised by the Secretary of the War Department, in relation to all the acts of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs," to the Secretary of the Interior, who now headed the newly created DOI (9 Stat. 395).
https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llsl//llsl-c30/llsl-c30.pdfSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Statutory material affecting the BIA is codified in 25 U.S.C. 1–17 (chapter 1).
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title25/chapter1&edition=prelimRules and regulations that affect Indians are codified in 25 CFR. Parts 1–299 contain rules and regulations that are associated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Parts 900–999 contain rules and regulations that are associated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and with the Department of Health and Human Service's Indian Health Service.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2dff2e4675b2891abcf7c9eb0078703c&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title25/25tab_02.tplACTIVITIES
The BIA's mission centers on fulfilling its trust responsibilities and promoting self-determination on behalf of federally recognized tribal governments, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. The BIA provides services to members of 574 federally recognized Indian Tribes in the 48 contiguous United States and Alaska—nearly two million American Indians and Alaska Natives.
https://www.bia.gov/biaThe BIA serves the federally recognized Tribes through four Offices:
The Office of Indian Services operates the BIA's general assistance, disaster relief, Indian child welfare, tribal government, Indian self-determination, and reservation roads programs.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/oisThe Office of Justice Services directly operates or funds law enforcement, tribal courts, and detention facilities on Federal Indian lands.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/ojsThe Office of Trust Services works with tribes and individual American Indians and Alaska Natives in the management of their trust lands, assets, and resources.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/otsLastly, the Office of Field Operations oversees 12 regional offices and 83 agencies that carry out the mission of the BIA at the tribal level. The regional offices and agencies administer delivery of program services to the federally recognized Tribes, to individual Indians, and to Alaska Natives, either directly or through contracts, grants or compacts.
https://www.bia.gov/regional-officesSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that Bureau of Indian Affairs records have been assigned to record group 075.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/075.htmlBoarding Schools
On April 1, 2022, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan T. Newland submitted the first "Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report" to Secretary Debra A. Haaland. In his cover letter to the report, Assistant Secretary Newland described the report's achievements: "[It] shows for the first time that between 1819 and 1969, the United States operated or supported 408 boarding schools across 37 States (or then-territories), including 21 schools in Alaska and 7 schools in Hawaii. This report identifies each of those schools by name and location, some of which operated across multiple sites." To conclude his letter, and with an eye on the future, he added: "This report . . . is only a first step to acknowledge the experiences of Federal Indian boarding school children. It notes a desire from people across Indian Country and the Native Hawaiian Community to share their individual and family experiences within the Federal Indian boarding school system and the resulting impacts today. This report also presents an opportunity for us to reorient our Federal policies to support the revitalization of Tribal languages and cultural practices. This reorientation of Federal policy is necessary to counteract nearly two centuries of Federal policies aimed at the destruction of Tribal languages and cultures."
https://www.bia.gov/service/federal-indian-boarding-school-initiativeCareer Opportunities
BIA job opportunities, common job documents, and hiring information for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are available online.
https://www.bia.gov/jobsThe BIA posted a short video to promote its firefighting and aviation program. It focuses on the program's Helitack crews, which rely heavily on helicopters in their efforts to extinguish wildfires.
https://youtu.be/c8VnzD87Qj8In 2020, the BIA ranked 358th among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=IN06Contact Information
The BIA posts its mailing address and fax and phone numbers on the Indian Affairs' website on the "Contact Us" web page.
https://www.bia.gov/contact-usEstate Planning
The American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 (AIPRA) made changes to the way trust or restricted land and property is inherited. It also made changes that affected land management and purchases. The BIA website has information that explains how AIPRA affects wills and inheritance.
https://www.bia.gov/service/estate-planningFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the BIA has published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/indian-affairs-bureauFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA establishes a presumption that the public may access records in the possession of Federal agencies. The Act is based on the principle of openness in government and generally provides that a person has a right of access to Federal agency records. This right of access is restricted, however, by nine exemptions and three special law enforcement record exclusions that shield certain records, or parts of them, from disclosure. More information on the FOIA and instructions for submitting a request to access BIA records are available on the Indian Affairs website.
https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/foia | Email: foia@bia.govBefore submitting a FOIA request in writing with the FOIA officer, the requester should check that the information being sought is not already in the public domain. The DOI maintains FOIA libraries that include the following record types and resources: final opinions made in the adjudication of cases; policy statements and interpretations that the DOI has adopted, but not published in the Federal Register; administrative staff manuals and staff instructions that affect a member of the public; records that have been requested repeatedly by submitters of FOIA requests or records that the DOI anticipates will be requested repeatedly in the future; an index of frequently requested records; and links to other related sites and reference materials.
https://www.doi.gov/foia/libraryFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Indian Affairs posts answers to FAQs on its website.
https://www.bia.gov/frequently-asked-questionsLibrary
Frequently requested documents and links are accessible on the Indian Affairs website in the electronic document library.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/document-libraryMaps
The Office of Trust Services' Branch of Geospatial Support (BGS) posts web maps and static maps, as well as downloadable data, on the Indian Affairs' website. The BGS provides geographic information systems software, training, and system support for the management of natural resources on Indian lands. Phone, 877-293-9494.
https://biamaps.doi.gov | Email: geospatial@bia.govThe Office of Trust Services posted the "Indian Lands of Federally Recognized Tribes of the United States" map on the BIA website in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/dup/assets/bia/ots/webteam/pdf/idc1-028635.pdfThe "National Climate Assessment: Indigenous People's Resilience Actions" map, which is posted on the Office of Trust Services' website, provides an overview of indigenous people's actions to prepare for changes in climate by taking steps to increase resilience.
https://biamaps.doi.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=53794ae1ce054029bd5b55bcf269434cPrograms / Services
Federally recognized Tribes look to the BIA for a range of services. The "Programs and Services" web page, which is accessible on the Indian Affairs' website, provides information about them.
https://www.bia.gov/programs-servicesRegional Offices
Contact information for the 12 BIA regional offices is available online.
https://www.bia.gov/regional-officesRegulations in Development
The "Regulations and Other Documents in Development" web page, which is part of the Indian Affairs' website, allows visitors to monitor the progress of regulations that are in development, under review, or in development and under review.
https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/raca/regulations-and-other-documents-in-developmentSite Map
The site map, which is part of the Indian Affairs' website, allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.bia.gov/sitemap.xmlSocial Media
The BIA posts content on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/USIndianAffairsThe BIA tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/USIndianAffairsTracing Ancestry
The "Tracing American Indian and Alaska Native Ancestry" web page has information on genealogical research and on tribal contacts and services. It also answers some oft asked questions about tracing one's family ancestry.
https://www.bia.gov/guide/tracing-american-indian-and-alaska-native-aian-ancestryWildland Fire Management
Indian Affairs posted a collection of fire prevention and education videos on wildland fire management in Indian country on its website. Note that not all of the videos in the collection were produced by the BIA.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/dfwfm/bwfm/Video-LibraryBureau of Indian Education
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-3710
http://www.bie.edu
| DIRECTOR * | Tony L. Dearman |
The Bureau of Indian Education provides educational opportunities for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students from federally recognized Tribes
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
To reflect the parallel purpose and organizational structure that the BIE has in relation to other programs within the Office of the Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs, the Office of Indian Education Programs was renamed the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) by departmental manual release no. 3721 of August 29, 2006.
https://www.bia.gov/bieNearly 95 years earlier, President Warren G. Harding approved Public Law 67–85, which is also referred to as the Snyder Act of 1921, to authorize the BIA, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, to "direct, supervise, and expend such moneys as Congress may from time to time appropriate, for the benefit, care, and assistance of the Indians throughout the United States for the following purposes . . ." One of those purposes was for the "general support and civilization, including education." Since the passage of the Snyder Act of 1921, three major legislative actions have restructured the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) with regard to educating American Indians.
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/67th-congress/Session%201/c67s1ch115.pdfOn June 18, 1934, the day on which President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved Public Law 73–383, which is also referred to as the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and the Wheeler-Howard Act, the longstanding Federal policy of acculturating and assimilating Indian people through a boarding school system ended. The new law introduced the teaching of Indian history and culture in BIA schools.
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/73rd-congress/session-2/c73s2ch576.pdfOn January 4, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford approved Public Law 93–638, which is also cited as the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, "to establish a program of assistance to upgrade Indian education" and "to support the right of Indian citizens to control their own educational activities." The law allows federally recognized Tribes to contract with the BIA for the operation of Bureau-funded schools and to determine education programs suitable for their children.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-88/pdf/STATUTE-88-Pg2203.pdfOn November 1, 1978, President James E. Carter approved Public Law 95–561, which is also cited as the Education Amendments of 1978. Additional amendments followed: Public Laws 98–511, 99–99, and 100–297. These legislative actions provided direct funding to tribally operated schools, empowered Indian school boards, permitted local hiring of teachers and staff, and created a direct line of authority between the Education Director and the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-92/pdf/STATUTE-92-Pg2143.pdfThe BIE organizational chart is part of the organizational chart of Indian Affairs.
https://www.indianaffairs.gov/sites/bia.gov/files/OrgChartFY18Greenbook.pdfSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Rules and regulations affecting Indians and their education are codified in 25 CFR 30–47 (subchapter E).
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=7954367ce0b81d96674d6b175d0dea54&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title25/25CIsubchapE.tplACTIVITIES
The BIE provides quality education opportunities from early childhood throughout adulthood, in accordance with the Tribes' needs for cultural and economic well-being, and in keeping with the diversity of Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages as distinct cultural and governmental entities. The BIE considers the whole person as it carries out its mission, taking into account the cultural, mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of the person within the contexts of family and Tribe or Alaska Native village.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=317c41e73ba08bd8f84a0dbdfba8a9c3&mc=true&node=pt25.1.32&rgn=div5#se25.1.32_13The BIE educates over 45,000 American Indian and Alaska Native children at 183 elementary and secondary schools on 64 reservations in 23 States. The Bureau operates 53 of these schools. The other 130 schools are tribally operated. The BIE oversees two postsecondary schools: Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS, and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, NM. It also funds the Navajo and United Tribes Technical Colleges.
https://www.bia.gov/bieSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that Bureau of Indian Affairs records have been assigned to record group 075. "Records of the Education Division 1874–1972" are part of that record group.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/075.htmlCareer Opportunities
American Indian children deserve a quality education—and that starts with highly qualified, dedicated staff and educators. The BIE employees nearly 4,500 professionals in careers that offer unique and diverse cultural and lifestyle experiences. Phone, 505-563-5304.
https://www.bie.edu/Jobs/index.htm | Email: staffing@bie.eduContact Information
The "Contact Us" web page has addresses and phone numbers for contacting the BIE.
https://www.bie.edu/ContactUs/index.htmThe Human Resources Office maintains a web page with contact information.
https://www.bie.edu/HR/Contact/index.htmThe BIE "National Staff Directory" (APR 2019) is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.bie.edu/cs/groups/xbie/documents/text/idc2-093307.pdfDivisions / Programs
The BIE website features a web page with a list of the agency's divisions and programs and links to their websites.
https://www.bie.edu/Programs/indexFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA establishes a presumption that the public may access records in the possession of Federal agencies. The Act is based on the principle of openness in government and generally provides that a person has a right of access to Federal agency records. This right of access is restricted, however, by nine exemptions and three special law enforcement record exclusions that shield certain records, or parts of them, from disclosure. More information on the FOIA and instructions for submitting a request to access BIE records are available on the Indian Affairs website.
https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/foia | Email: foia@bia.govBefore submitting a FOIA request in writing with the FOIA officer, the requester should check that the information being sought is not already in the public domain. The DOI maintains FOIA libraries that include the following record types and resources: final opinions made in the adjudication of cases; policy statements and interpretations that the DOI has adopted, but not published in the Federal Register; administrative staff manuals and staff instructions that affect a member of the public; records that have been requested repeatedly by submitters of FOIA requests or records that the DOI anticipates will be requested repeatedly in the future; an index of frequently requested records; and links to other related sites and reference materials.
https://www.doi.gov/foia/libraryFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The BIE posts answers to FAQs on its website.
https://www.bie.edu/HR/FAQ/index.htmNews
The BIE posts news items on its website.
https://www.bie.edu/NewsEvents/index.htmReports
Performance and special education reports and school report cards are accessible online.
https://www.bie.edu/HowAreWeDoing/index.htmResources
BIE education line officers, school superintendents, principals, teachers, and staff can access program guidance, handbooks, templates, and training provided in various formats—WebEx or PowerPoint—to refresh professional skills. These online documents and presentations are provided to supplement staff training throughout the school year.
https://www.bie.edu/Resources/index.htmScholarships
The BIE website provides information on scholarship opportunities for American Indian students.
https://www.bie.edu/ParentsStudents/Grants/index.htmSchools
Contact information for schools that the BIE oversees is available online.
https://www.bie.edu/Schools/index.htmSite Map
The website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.bie.edu/SiteMap/index.htmSocial Media
The BIE maintains a Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/BureauofindianeducationThe BIE tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/BureauIndianEduTribal Resources
A directory of external resources to support tribes is accessible on the BIE website. The directory file is in Portable Document Format for viewing and downloading.
https://www.bie.edu/Resources/index.htmThe Sources of Information were updated 12–2019.
Bureau of Land Management
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-3801
http://www.blm.gov
| DIRECTOR * | Tracy Stone-Manning |
The Bureau of Land Management sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
President Harry S. Truman prepared and transmitted to the U.S. Congress a plan of reorganization that created the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Section 403 of reorganization plan no. 3 of 1946 consolidated the General Land Office with the Grazing Service to establish the Bureau of Land Management. The plan became effective on July 16, 1946.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5a-node84-leaf93&num=0&edition=prelimOn October 21, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford approved the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (PL 94–579) to establish public land policy; to establish guidelines for its administration; to provide for the management, protection, development, and enhancement of the public lands; and for other purposes" (90 STAT. 2743). In the law, Congress declared that national policy governing the management of public lands "be on the basis of multiple use and sustained yield."
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-90/pdf/STATUTE-90-Pg2743.pdfThe BLM posts its organization chart online.
https://www.blm.gov/about/organization-chartSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Laws that affect public lands are codified in 43 U.S.C. Chapter 1 of that title contains codified material that is associated with the BLM.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title43/chapter1&edition=prelimRules and regulations that affect public lands and that are associated with the BLM are codified in 43 CFR 1000–9999 (subtitle B, ch. II). The codified subjects include forest, general, land resource, minerals, and range management; preservation and conservation; recreation programs; and technical services.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=5167eb7d8c784969301611a596a7818a&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title43/43chapterII.tplACTIVITIES
The BLM sustains the diversity, health, and productivity of America's public lands for the benefit of present and future generations through a mandate of multiple-use and sustained-yield. It manages 1 of every 10 acres of land across the United States, about 245 million acres of land, most of which is located in Alaska and 11 other Western States. The Bureau also manages about 30 percent, or 700 million acres, of the Nation’s subsurface mineral estate. The BLM oversees conventional and renewable energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting, and it protects cultural, historical, and natural resources. Many of these resources are found on National Conservation Lands, a subset of BLM lands that are federally designated, that cover 32 million acres, and that include 260 wilderness areas and 28 national monuments.
https://www.blm.gov/programsA number of energy resources are accessible on public lands. The BLM supports a diversified energy approach that includes coal, oil and gas, strategic minerals, as well as renewable energy resources like geothermal, solar, wind, and woody biomass. A diversified approach strengthens the Nation's energy security, strengthens its energy infrastructure, and stimulates job creation. To serve industry and the American public, the BLM is making energy development easier on public lands by reviewing and streamlining business processes.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-mineralsThe Bureau manages livestock on 155 million acres of land, administering nearly 18,000 permits and leases held by ranchers who graze mostly cattle and sheep.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/rangelands-and-grazingUnder the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, it also manages herds of wild horses and burros on public rangelands.
https://www.blm.gov/whbRecreation is also part of the BLM's portfolio. Birdwatchers, campers, hang gliders, horseback riders, hunters, mountain bikers, photographers, whitewater rafters, and visitors to cultural and natural heritage sites recreate on hundreds of millions of acres of public lands. The Bureau estimates that it receives approximately 62 million recreational visits per year.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreationThe BLM manages habitat for over 300 wildlife, fish, and plant species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act and 12 species identified as candidates for listing. Public lands that the BLM manages offer the best opportunity for recovery of some rare or listed plant and animal species because their unique requirements for survival can be met only on Federal lands.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/fish-and-wildlife/threatened-and-endangeredThe Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to stand up a law enforcement body to enforce Federal laws and regulations affecting public lands and their resources. As a result, the BLM has been given specific resource protection and law enforcement responsibilities that further the FLPMA's public lands management policy of multiple use. The Bureau's law enforcement program helps ensure public safety, while supporting its multiple-use mission. Law enforcement officers investigate vandalism and looting, support emergency responders, and maintain a safe environment for visitors to the public lands and for BLM employees.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/law-enforcementThe BLM carries out a broad range of actions to protect the public, natural landscapes, wildlife habitat, and recreational areas from wildfire. The BLM's national fire and aviation program consists of community assistance and protection, fire prevention through education, fire suppression, preparedness, predictive services, prescribed fire, and vegetative fuels management.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/fire-and-aviationThe BLM's lands, realty and cadastral survey program manages public land transactions: purchases and acquisitions, sales and exchanges, withdrawals, leases and permits, right-of-way authorizations, and, cadastral (i.e., mapping) survey services. From enabling energy development, to permitting commercial filming, to defining boundaries and maintaining public land records, BLM professionals regard the public lands as working landscapes, and they manage them for the benefit of current and future generations. The BLM's mission—which is built on the principles of multiple-use and sustained yield—requires the agency to promote commerce, conservation, and recreation on public lands.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/lands-and-realtyThe Bureau's broad management responsibilities require balancing public land uses and protection of public land resources. Working with State and local and tribal governments, stakeholder groups, and the public, the BLM creates land use plans, referred to as Resource Management Plans, to guide decisions for approved uses of and actions affecting public lands.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepaSources of Information
Adoption Schedule
The BLM offers wild horses and burros for adoption or purchase at events nationwide throughout the year. The most current adoption event schedule is accessible online.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoption-and-sales/eventsArchived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that BLM records have been assigned to record group 049.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/049.htmlArtist-in-Residence Program
Residencies of 6–8 weeks are available in several Western States for painters, photographers, potters, sculptors, and other artists.
https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/artist-in-residence/about-the-programBusiness Opportunities
The BLM procures a wide array of goods and services.
https://www.blm.gov/services/acquisition/contractingStewardship contracting refers to trading forest products for land management and services. In exchange for thinning the forest and keeping the trees to sell, for example, a contractor or an organization performs service-work that helps to achieve key land management goals like improving wildlife habitat or reestablishing native plant species. The intent of stewardship is to improve, maintain, or restore forest or rangeland health; restore or maintain water quality; improve fish and wildlife habitat; and reduce danger from wildfires.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands/stewardship-contractingCareer Opportunities
The BLM relies on people with diverse skills and from various professional backgrounds—business, engineering, fire management, law enforcement, science, and other fields—to manage the Nation’s public lands and resources.
https://www.blm.gov/careersIn 2020, the BLM ranked 322d among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=IN05Climate Change
Climate change presents challenges to the BLM as it manages inland freshwater ecosystems (e.g., lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands) and coastal wetlands. Researchers project the disappearance of cold-water fish from large areas of their current geographic ranges as streams become more sporadic and warmer; the expansion of the ranges of warm-water fish as surface waters warm; and more frequent and widespread algal blooms that adversely affect water quality.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/fish-and-wildlife/fisheries-and-aquatics/about-the-programContact Information
Contact information is available online.
https://www.blm.gov/office/national-officeData Resources
The BLM regularly gathers, maintains, and publishes data to inform stakeholders and the general public. These data include detailed information on the commercial uses of the public lands; recreational activities and revenues; wild horse and burro management; cadastral (i.e., mapping) surveys; conservation of rangeland resources and 870 special units (e.g., wilderness areas); and the socioeconomic effects of public land management.
https://www.blm.gov/about/dataFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the BLM has published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/land-management-bureauFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA gives the right to request access to BLM records to anyone. In response to a FOIA request, the BLM will disclose the desired information, unless this right of access is restricted by one of nine exemptions or three special law enforcement record exclusions that shield certain records, or parts of them, from disclosure. More information on the FOIA and instructions for submitting a request are available on the BLM website. Phone, 202-912-7650.
https://www.blm.gov/about/foia | Email: blm_wo_foia@blm.govBefore submitting a records request in writing to the FOIA officer, the requester should check that the information being sought is not already publicly accessible. The BLM maintains an electronic FOIA reading room where it posts records that have been released into the public domain in response to previous requests.
https://www.blm.gov/about/foia/foia-reading-roomGeneral Land Office Records
The General Land Office Records website allows visitors to access Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States (i.e., States created out of the public domain). The website contains images of more than five million Federal land title records that were issued since 1820. It also has images related to survey plats and field notes dating back to 1810.
https://www.blm.gov/services/land-recordsGeographic Information System (GIS) Data
BLM Navigator serves as a centralized location for accessing project, State, and national geospatial data.
https://navigator.blm.gov/homeThe Landscape Approach Data Portal is a one-stop source for geospatial data, maps, models, and reports that BLM's landscape initiatives have produced.
https://landscape.blm.gov/geoportal/catalog/main/home.pageHistory
A timeline that is structured around the enactment of land management legislation is available online. Specific public laws have guided the BLM's mission, and the passage of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 was the culmination of that process of policymaking.
https://www.blm.gov/about/history/timelineInformation Center
The "Information Center" web page has links to BLM policy, congressional testimony, Federal Register, live events, magazines and newsletters, notices, Office of Civil Rights, press releases, public room (brochures, maps, reports), and social media web pages.
https://www.blm.gov/mediaKids
Giving young people the opportunity to learn outdoors and recreate on public lands promotes the development of the next generation of public land stewards and conservation leaders.
https://www.blm.gov/kidsLibrary
The library has professional staff who can assist BLM employees nationwide. The library staff is also available to assist members of the general public seeking BLM publications and information. The library offers a range of resources and services that include journals, databases, publications, subject guides, and an online library catalog.
https://www.blm.gov/learn/blm-library | Email: blm_library@blm.govManagement
The BLM manages public lands in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
https://www.blm.gov/about/how-we-manageThe BLM manages one in every 10 acres of land in the United States, and approximately 30 percent of the Nation’s minerals. These lands and their minerals are found in each of the 50 States in diverse ecosystems like arctic tundra, deserts, forests, mountains, and grasslands.
https://www.blm.gov/about/what-we-manageMaps
Map and geospatial products inform BLM decision making. These maps and products are becoming more accessible online.
https://www.blm.gov/mapsPaleontology
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public lands where Deinonychus, Edmontosaurus, Pentaceratops, and Stegosaurus once roamed. To learn more, visit the BLM's "Paleontology" web pages.
https://www.blm.gov/paleontologyRecreation
The National Conservation Lands program offers online recreational guides for a convenient connection to public lands.
https://www.blm.gov/visitThe BLM website provides resources for mountain bikers. These resources include the BLM Top 20 Mountain Biking Opportunities list and interactive mountain biking maps for trails on BLM lands.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/mountainbikeSocial Media
The BLM uses digital media tools to connect people with public lands and to keep people informed about activities on them.
https://www.blm.gov/media/social-mediaStatistics
Tables and spreadsheets with data that include the numbers of BLM-administered oil and gas leases, of applications for permit to drill, and of oil and gas wells are accessible on the BLM website. Most of the statistics presented cover Fiscal Years 1988–2015.
https://www.blm.gov/about/data/public-land-statisticsTimber Sales
The availability of timber for harvest depends on the age and condition of the timber, land status, and public demand, as well as on other land use considerations.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands/timber-salesWoody Biomass
Woody biomass is used to produce electricity and products like furniture, paper, and wood for housing.
https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands/biomass-and-bioenergyBureau of Ocean Energy Management
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240-0001
202-208-6474
http://www.boem.gov
| DIRECTOR * | Amanda Lefton |
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources in a way that is environmentally and economically responsible.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
In April of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico exposed inadequacies in the Federal offshore energy regulatory system. In response to the disaster, former Secretary of the Interior Kenneth L. Salazar issued two secretarial orders. On May 19, 2010, he issued Order 3299 "to separate and reassign the responsibilities that had been conducted by the Minerals Management Service [MMS] into new management structures that will improve the management, oversight, and accountability of activities on the Outer Continental Shelf [OCS]."
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/3299a2-establishment_of_the_bureau_of_ocean_energy_management_the_bureau_of_safety_and_environmental_enforcement_and_the_office_of_natural_resources_revenue.pdfWithin the Department of the Interior, Order 3299 initiated the establishment of the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), whose director would report to the Assistant Secretary–Land and Minerals Management. The order also initiated the establishment of the new Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), whose director also would report to the same Assistant Secretary. A third new agency, the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, formerly the MMS's minerals revenue management program, would be established within the Department, and its director would report to a different Assistant Secretary.
https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/reorganization/reorganization-former-mmsOn June 18, 2010, former Secretary Salazar issued Order 3302, which announced that the MMS would be renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) for the duration of the reorganization period.
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/3302_-change_of_the_name_of_the_minerals_management_service_to_the_bureau_of_ocean_energy_management_regulation_and_enforcement.pdfOn October 1, 2011, BOEMRE rules and regulations that now applied to the BOEM were recodified in a new chapter by reorganization of 30 CFR. The establishment of the BOEM and its sibling the BSEE and the recodification of their respective rules and regulations in a revised second chapter and a newly added fifth chapter marked the completion of the reorganization of the former MMS.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-10-18/pdf/2011-22675.pdfThe BOEM posts an organizational chart on its website.
https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-organizational-chartSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Statutory material that affects mineral lands and mining is codified in 30 U.S.C. Chapter 26 of that title deals with deep seabed hard mineral resources.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title30/chapter26&edition=prelimStatutory material that affects public lands is codified in 43 U.S.C. Chapter 36 of that title deals with management of OCS resources.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title43/chapter36&edition=prelimBOEM rules and regulations are codified in chapter V, parts 500–599, of 30 CFR.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9eabfe008f51a5c2935452c280fb4160&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title30/30chapterV.tplACTIVITIES
The BOEM manages the exploration and development of offshore energy and marine mineral resources on the OCS. The BOEM supports energy independence, environmental protection, and economic development by responsibly managing these offshore resources in ways that comport with the best available science.
The OCS is a significant source of oil and gas for the Nation’s energy supply. OCS production accounts for about 18 percent of domestic crude oil and 4 percent of domestic natural gas supply. The BOEM manages about 2,674 active oil and gas leases on more than 14.2 million OCS acres. In fiscal year 2019, offshore Federal production reached approximately 683 million barrels of oil and 1.03 trillion cubic feet of gas, almost all of which was produced in the Gulf of Mexico.
https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energyThe BOEM manages offshore development of renewable energy in Federal waters. The renewable energy program began in 2009, when the Department of the Interior announced the final regulations for the OCS Renewable Energy Program, which the Energy Policy Act of 2005 had authorized. The regulations provide a framework for all of the activities that support the production and transmission of energy from sources other than oil and natural gas. The BOEM anticipates managing the development of more hydrokinetic and more offshore wind and solar energy on the OCS.
https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energyThe BOEM's environmental program covers the three major areas that the agency regulates on the OCS: oil and gas, renewable energy, and nonenergy minerals like sand, gravel, and hard minerals. The Office of Environmental Programs develops national policy, provides guidance, and coordinates with regional activities. The environmental program’s two key functions are to support science and to conduct environmental assessments, which include consultations with stakeholders and other regulatory agencies to strengthen decision making. The Chief Environmental Officer also manages and leads engagement and consultation at the national and regional levels with federally recognized Tribes.
https://www.boem.gov/environmentThe BOEM partners with communities through its marine minerals program to address erosion along the Nation's barrier islands, coastal beaches, dunes, and wetlands. Erosion affects defense, energy, natural resources, public infrastructure, and tourism. To mitigate the effects of erosion, the BOEM leases gravel and sand and shell resources for nourishing beaches, protecting shorelines, and restoring wetlands. These resources are extracted from Federal waters on the OCS with environmental and safety oversight. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (PL 83–212) provides the authority to manage minerals on the OCS and the requirement to provide environmental oversight. BOEM is the only Federal agency with the authority to lease marine minerals from the OCS.
https://www.boem.gov/marine-mineralsSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that MMS records have been assigned to record group 473. The MMS is the predecessor agency to the BOEM. See the above "Establishment and Organization" section.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/473.htmlBusiness Opportunities
Information on doing business with the BOEM and related links are available on the "Procurement Business Opportunities" website.
http://www.boem.gov/Doing-Business-with-BOEMCalendar
The BOEM maintains an online events calendar.
http://www.boem.gov/Upcoming-EventsCareer Opportunities
The BOEM relies on professionals with engineering and science backgrounds for ensuring the safe and environmentally responsible development of the Nation's offshore energy and marine mineral resources.
http://www.boem.gov/employmentIn 2020, the BOEM ranked 58th among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/IN12Contact Information
Information is available on the "Contact Us" web page.
https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/contact-usEducational Resources
BOEM teacher resources are available online.
http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Studies-Program-Teacher-ResourcesFactsheets
The BOEM posts factsheets on the following topics: about the agency, environment, marine minerals, oil and gas energy, and renewable energy.
https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/boem-fact-sheetsFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the BOEM has published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/ocean-energy-management-bureauFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Effective on July 5, 1967, the FOIA gives any person a right to obtain access to Federal agency records; however, nine exemptions and three special law enforcement exclusions shield certain records, or parts of them, from public disclosure. A FOIA request may be made for any agency record. Instructions for submitting a BOEM record request under the FOIA are available online. The BOEM operates a FOIA requester service center. Phone, 703-787-1128.
https://www.boem.gov/foiaFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The BOEM posts answers to FAQs.
https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/frequently-asked-questionsGlossaries
The BOEM has posted a glossary of ecological terms.
https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/boem-newsroom/Technical-Announcements/2016/Chapter-7-Glossary-of-Ecological-Terms.pdfThe BOEM has posted a glossary of terms that are associated with wind energy.
https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/Studies/FEIS/Section12.0Glossary.pdfGreenhouse Gas Emissions
BOEM OCS Report 2016–065, whose authors are E. Wolvovsky. and W. Anderson, is titled "OCS Oil and Natural Gas: Potential Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Social Cost of Carbon." The report's key findings are the following: Most lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the result of oil and gas products consumption; the price of oil and gas and production volume have a large effect on the amount of oil and gas lifecycle GHG emissions; the magnitude of emissions and their related social costs are comparable for the 2017–2022 program and the 2017–2022 program's "No Action Alternative"; the production of oil and gas from other global sources can be more carbon-intense relative to oil and gas that are produced on the OCS; absent policy changes or technological advancements, OCS emissions could consume a measurable increment of the remaining worldwide and domestic GHG emissions budget.
https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/oil-and-gas-energy-program/Leasing/Five-Year-Program/2017-2022/OCS-Report-BOEM-2016-065---OCS-Oil-and-Natural-Gas---Potential-Lifecycle-GHG-Emissions-and-Social-Cost-of-Carbon.pdfHistoric Preservation
Archaeologists in Office of Renewable Energy Programs coordinate studies and conduct National Historic Preservation Act reviews to identify and protect archaeological sites and other historic properties. OCS historic properties include aircraft, lighthouses, precontact (European contact with Native Americans) archaeological sites, and shipwrecks. Historic properties onshore come under review when a proposed renewable energy project may affect them. To learn more about investigating the steamship "City of Houston" and German submarine "U–576" and other preservation activities, visit the "Historic Preservation Activities" web page.
https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy/Historic-Preservation-ActivitiesLibrary
The BOEM website has an electronic library.
http://www.boem.gov/LibraryMarine Minerals
Mineral resources from the OCS are used in coastal restoration projects to address erosion. The BOEM has conveyed rights to millions of cubic yards of OCS sand for coastal restoration projects in multiple States. These projects have restored hundreds of miles of the Nation's coastline, protecting both infrastructure and ecological habitat. The BOEM posts key marine mineral statistics on its website.
https://www.boem.gov/marine-minerals/current-statistics/current-marine-minerals-statistics | Email: MarineMinerals@boem.govOil / Gas
The BOEM has posted the 2017–2022 lease sale schedule and 2017–2022 quicklinks on its "Leasing" web page.
https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/2017-2022-lease-sale-schedulePosters
Colorful BOEM posters that promote maritime history, ocean science and stewardship, and awareness of marine animals and their habitats are available from the Gulf of Mexico Public Information Office. Phone, 800-200-4853.
http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-PostersPress Releases
The BOEM posts press releases.
https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/news-items?news_type=11Regional Offices
The BOEM operates three regional offices, one for the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) region, one for the Pacific OCS region, and one for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic OCS regions. Phone, 907-334-5200 (Alaska). Phone, 805-384-6305 (Pacific). Phone, 800-200-4853 (Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic).
https://www.boem.gov/regionsRenewable Energy
A list of leases that the BOEM has executed since the inception of its renewable energy program is available online.
http://www.boem.gov/Lease-and-Grant-InformationThe BOEM collaborates with States on offshore energy development and is in the process of coordinating Federal-State task forces in certain coastal States. A summary of the status of activity in the various States is available online.
https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/Index.aspxScience / Technology
"Ocean Science" is BOEM's science and technology journal. The agency is a leading contributor to the growing body of scientific knowledge on the Nation's marine and coastal environments.
https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/library/ocean-scienceShipwrecks
The BOEM Alaskan shipwreck table is the most comprehensive compilation of Alaskan shipwrecks to date. The table offers a list of wrecks that occurred in Alaskan waters from 1741 to 2011. The "Shipwrecks Off Alaska's Coast" web page also features maritime history, ship, and shipwreck links to external websites.
https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/shipwrecks-alaskas-coastSite Map
The website map helps visitors find specific topics or allows them to browse the site's contents.
https://www.boem.gov/sitemapSocial Media
The BOEM maintains a Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/BureauOfOceanEnergyManagementThe BOEM tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/BOEMThe BOEM has a YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXL807nkJMCuxNj5kF09LLQ/featuredStatistics / Facts
BOEM collects data on its offshore oil and gas energy programs and makes them available in multiple formats.
https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/statistics-and-factsBureau of Reclamation
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-513-0575
http://www.usbr.gov
| COMMISSIONER * | Camille C. Touton |
The Bureau of Reclamation develops, manages, and protects water and related resources in a way that is environmentally and economically responsible and that benefits the American public.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
On June 17, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., approved an act to appropriate "the receipts from the sale and disposal of public lands in certain States and Territories to the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of arid lands." Pursuant to Public Law 161 (32 Stat. 388), which is popularly known as the Reclamation Act or National Irrigation Act of 1902, former Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock established the U.S. Reclamation Service (USRS) in the Geological Survey in July.
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/57th-congress/session-1/c57s1ch1093.pdfIn 1907, the USRS separated from the Geological Survey and became an independent bureau within the Department of the Interior. Sixteen years later, the independent USRS was renamed the Bureau of Reclamation.
https://www.usbr.gov/history/2019%20NEW%20BRIEF%20HISTORY%20V1.pdfOn August 4, 1977, President James E. Carter approved Public Law 95–91, which is also cited as the Department of Energy Organization Act. The law transferred the Bureau's power marketing functions to the Department of Energy (91 STAT. 578) as part of an effort "to secure effective management to assure a coordinated national energy policy" (STAT. 565).
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-91/pdf/STATUTE-91-Pg565.pdfOn November 6, 1979, former Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus issued Secretarial Order 3042, which changed the Bureau's name to the Water and Power Resources Service (WPRS). On May 18, 1981, former Secretary of the Interior James G. Watt issued Secretarial Order 3064, which renamed the WPRS the Bureau of Reclamation (BR).
The BR posts its organizational chart in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.usbr.gov/main/images/br_org_chart.pdfSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Codified statutory material dealing the Federal Government's reclamation and irrigation of public lands is found in 43 U.S.C. chapter 12. The Reclamation Act of 1902 is classified generally to this chapter.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title43/chapter12&edition=prelimRules and regulations that affect public lands and that are associated with the BR are codified in 43 CFR 400–999 (subtitle B, chapter I).
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f90eabe3636e1549dfc39643c94595c2&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title43/43chapterI.tplACTIVITIES
The BR is the largest wholesaler of water in the United States. It brings water to more than 31 million people and provides 140,000 Western farmers with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland. This irrigated farmland produces 60% of the Nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.
The Bureau is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States. Its 53 powerplants produce annually more than 40 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, earning nearly $1 billion in revenues and generating enough energy for 3.5 million homes.
http://www.usbr.gov/main/about/mission.htmlThe BR's approach to water resource development has evolved over the years: from single-purpose agricultural projects to projects of multipurpose whose scope includes promoting water-based outdoor recreation. Recreation sites that are developed as a result of BR water projects rank among the Nation's most popular places for water-based outdoor recreation. These projects include approximately 6.5 million acres of land and water that are, for the most part, open to the public for recreation.
https://www.usbr.gov/recreationThe BR also engages in conservation activities to support native species and their habitats. In partnership with Arizona, California, and Nevada, the BR implemented a program to conserve native species and habitats across the Colorado River Basin. In partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and U.S. Forest Service, the BR implemented a project to increase mainstem and off-channel habitat in a segment of the Grand Ronde River. The BR also tries to prevent invasive quagga and zebra mussels from spreading. These bivalve mollusks adversely affect the natural ecology, which harms endangered native species. The disruption that they visit upon ecosystems can cause new listings under the Endangered Species Act. Mussel infestations threaten agriculture, navigation locks, and biodiversity that supports the Western outdoor recreation industry.
https://www.usbr.gov/conservation/BR operations and facilities support flood control. Its programs also mitigate the effects of drought through contingency planning, resiliency projects, and emergency response actions.
https://www.usbr.gov/drought/Sources of Information
A–Z Index
The BR website has an A–Z index to help visitors navigate its content.
https://www.usbr.gov/main/index/Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that BR records have been assigned to record group 115.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/115.htmlArt Collection
In the late 1960s, the BR launched a program to present its accomplishments through art. The Bureau commissioned 40 of America's most prominent artists to visit BR water resource development sites and record their impressions on canvas. When the project was completed, the artists had created more than 375 pieces of artwork. In the early 1970s, the public had an opportunity to view much of the work in a traveling exhibition that was circulated by the Smithsonian Institution and entitled "The American Artist and Water Reclamation." The BR maintains about 200 pieces of the original artwork. Many of the paintings are on display at the Main Interior Building and some regional offices.
https://www.usbr.gov/museumproperty/art/homepage.htmlBusiness Opportunities
The BR purchases a wide range of products and services and supports various Federal socioeconomic development programs by assisting businesses. The Bureau also provides financial assistance for programs related to conservation, Endangered Species Act mitigation, rural water, and water management and reclamation and reuse. Phone, 303-445-2431.
http://www.usbr.gov/mso/aamd/doing-business.htmlCareer Opportunities
The BR relies on professionals with expertise in administration, engineering and design, environmental protection, research, wildlife management, and other disciplines to carry out its mission. Career-related information is available from the nearest regional office or from the Diversity and Human Resources Office, Denver, CO. Phone, 303-445-2684.
https://www.usbr.gov/hr/contact.htmlIn 2019, the BR ranked 121st among 420 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/IN07Climate Change Risks
The SECURE Water Act (123 STAT. 1329) is part of Public Law 111–11 (123 STAT. 991–1456), whose short title is the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Section 9503(c) authorizes the BR to assess climate change risks for water and environmental resources in major river basins that it manages. Section 9503(c) also authorizes the BR to evaluate potential climate change effects on water resource management and development of strategies. Since the law's enactment on March 30, 2009, the BR has prepared two "SECURE Water Act Section 9503(c)—Reclamation Climate Change and Water" reports for the U.S. Congress.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-123/pdf/STATUTE-123-Pg991.pdf"SECURE Water Act Section 9503(c)—Reclamation Climate Change and Water 2016" is the second and most recent report that the BR has prepared for Congress. In the report's first chapter, its authors wrote: "[The Act] recognizes that climate change poses a significant challenge to the protection of adequate and safe supplies of water, which are fundamental to the health, economy, security, and ecology of the United States." The next SECURE Water Act report is scheduled for preparation and delivery to the U.S. Congress in 2021.
https://www.usbr.gov/climate/secure/docs/2016secure/2016SECUREReport.pdfContact Information
Contact information for the Washington, DC, and Denver, CO, based offices and Upper Colorado, Great Plains, Lower Colorado, Mid-Pacific, and Pacific Northwest regional offices is available on the "Addresses and Contacts" web page.
http://www.usbr.gov/main/offices.htmlMedia contact information is posted online.
https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/presskit/mediacontact.htmlContact information for the Acquisition and Assistance Management Division is posted online.
https://www.usbr.gov/mso/aamd/org-contact.htmlCooperative Agricultural Weather Network (AgriMet))
In cooperation with local, State, and other Federal sponsors, the BR promotes energy and water conservation through AgriMet, which is a network of more than 90 automated weather stations that collect and telemeter site-specific weather data. The original AgriMet program started in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s and was expanded into the Great Plains region.
Great Plains Region—
https://www.usbr.gov/gp/agrimet/index.htmlPacific Northwest—
https://www.usbr.gov/pn/agrimet/Environmental Resources and Reports
The BR maintains a list of links to online resources that provide environmental information.
http://www.usbr.gov/environmentalFactsheet
The BR posts a factsheet on its website.
https://www.usbr.gov/main/about/fact.htmlFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the BR has published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/reclamation-bureauThe BR maintains a "Federal Register Notices and Rulemaking" web page.
https://www.usbr.gov/fedreg/index.htmlFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA establishes a presumption that records in the possession of Federal agencies are accessible to the public. Before the law was passed in 1966, the individual had to establish a right to examine Government records. Passage of the FOIA shifted the burden of proof from the individual to the Government: A "right to know" doctrine replaced a "need to know" standard. The law established standards for determining records that must be disclosed and records that can be withheld. The law also provided administrative and judicial remedies for information seekers who have been denied access to records.
http://www.usbr.gov/foia/contacts.htmlThe BR maintains an electronic reading room that contains frequently requested records and documents that are currently of special interest. Information seekers should avail themselves of this online resource to determine if the information that they seek is immediately available and readily accessible without the additional step of filing a FOIA request.
http://www.usbr.gov/foia/readroom.htmlGlossaries
Definitions for terms commonly used by the BR are accessible in its online glossary.
http://www.usbr.gov/library/glossaryThe BR maintains a separate online glossary of recreation-related terms.
http://www.usbr.gov/recreation/glossary.htmlHydrologic and Meteorologic Monitoring (HydroMet)
The BR operates a network of automated Hydromet stations, including their communications and computer systems, throughout the Great Plains and the Pacific Northwest regions. The Hydromet network collects remote environmental and water data and transmits them via radio and satellite. The Hydromet network provides cost-effective, near-real-time water management capability. Streamflow forecasts and current river and resevoir operations conditions are then calculated by combining Hydromet data with other information.
Great Plains Region—
https://www.usbr.gov/gp/hydrometPacific Northwest—
https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/Invasive Mussels
Two species of dreissenid mussels, namely quagga and zebra, have become established in U.S. freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. Invasive dreissenid mussels pose significant challenges for all agencies and industries that manage water because they are prolific breeders and settle on or within water facility infrastructure.
https://www.usbr.gov/musselsLibrary
The BR's website has an online search tool that allows visitors to search the electronic library catalog. External patrons may use the library, which is located in Denver, CO, by appointment only, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Phone, 303-445-2072.
https://www.usbr.gov/library/ | Email: library@usbr.govMultimedia Media
Links to BR's historic photographs and photograph database are available on the "Reclamation Multimedia" web page. Other links that lead to podcasts on water management and to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds also are available. BR Social Media links include Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
https://www.usbr.gov/main/multimedia/index.html#socialNews
The BR posts news releases and stories, as well as congressional testimony, factsheets, photos, and speeches.
http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsreleaseOutdoor Recreation / Cultural Activities
The BR participates in Recreation.gov. This partnership of twelve Government agencies provides information on all recreation facilities on Federal lands, including those owned and managed by the BR. Online visitors may use the Recreation.gov website to make reservations at facilities requiring them.
https://www.recreation.gov/about-usPublications
The BR posts publications on its website.
https://www.usbr.gov/library/reclamationpubs.htmlReclamation Manual
The BR's website has an online tool that allows users to search for keywords and terms in the "Reclamation Manual." The manual comprises a series of policy and directives and standards, which collectively assign program responsibility and establish and document agencywide methods of doing business.
http://www.usbr.gov/recmanResearch / Science
The Research and Development Office publishes the quarterly magazine "Knowledge Stream," whose content centers on mission-critical news about research and science and on the challenges of managing water and generating power in the American West.
https://www.usbr.gov/research/ks.htmlWater Conservation
The WaterSMART program allows all Department of the Interior bureaus to work with States, tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to pursue a sustainable water supply for the Nation by establishing a framework that provides Federal leadership and assistance on the efficient use of water, that integrates water and energy policies to support the sustainable use of all natural resources, and that coordinates the water conservation activities of the various departmental offices.
https://www.usbr.gov/watersmartThe Sources of Information were updated 2–2020.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-3985
http://www.bsee.gov
| DIRECTOR * | Kevin M. Sligh, Sr. |
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement promotes safety, protects the environment, and conserves resources offshore by overseeing the regulatory process and enforcing Federal rules and regulations.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
In April of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico exposed inadequacies in the Federal offshore energy regulatory system. In response to the disaster, former Secretary of the Interior Kenneth L. Salazar issued two secretarial orders. On May 19, 2010, he issued Order 3299 "to separate and reassign the responsibilities that had been conducted by the Minerals Management Service [MMS] into new management structures that will improve the management, oversight, and accountability of activities on the Outer Continental Shelf [OCS]."
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/3299a2-establishment_of_the_bureau_of_ocean_energy_management_the_bureau_of_safety_and_environmental_enforcement_and_the_office_of_natural_resources_revenue.pdfWithin the Department of the Interior, Order 3299 initiated the establishment of the new Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), whose director would report to the Assistant Secretary–Land and Minerals Management. The order also initiated the establishment of the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), whose director also would report to the same Assistant Secretary. A third new agency, the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR), formerly the MMS's minerals revenue management program, would be established within the Department, and its director would report to the Assistant Secretary–Policy, Management and Budget.
On June 18, 2010, former Secretary Salazar issued Order 3302, which announced that the MMS would be renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) for the duration of the reorganization period.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/safety-and-environmental-enforcement-bureauOn October 1, 2010, the functions of the MMS's minerals revenue management program were transferred to the ONRR. A few days later, the ONRR published a final rule in the Federal Register to move the regulations associated with its royalty and revenue functions from chapter II in 30 CFR to chapter XII in the same title.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-10-04/pdf/2010-24721.pdfA year later, in October of 2011, 30 CFR was reorganized. BOEMRE rules and regulations that now applied to the BOEM were recodified in a new fifth chapter; the rules and regulations that now applied to the BSEE were recodified in a revised second chapter. The establishment of the BSEE and its sibling the BOEM and the reorganization of 30 CFR marked the completion of separating and reassigning the responsibilities of the former MMS.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-10-18/pdf/2011-22675.pdfThe BSEE posts an organizational chart on its website.
https://www.bsee.gov/who-we-are/our-organizationSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Statutory material affecting "Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources" is codified in chapter 26, sections 1401–1473, of 30 U.S.C.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title30/chapter26&edition=prelimBSEE rules and regulations are codified in chapter II, parts 200–299, of 30 CFR.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e5dd5863d76dc4809df5de6afce53bf6&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title30/30chapterII.tplACTIVITIES
The BSEE promotes safety, protects the environment, and conserves resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) through regulatory oversight and enforcement. The Offshore Regulatory Program develops standards and regulations to improve operational safety and to strengthen environmental protection. The Oil Spill Preparedness Division develops standards and guidelines for offshore operators. It also collaborates with sister agencies on spill response technologies and capabilities.
Three regional offices support the Bureau. Their personnel inspect gas and oil drilling rigs and production platforms to ensure compliance with safety requirements. Inspection teams are multiperson, and the expertise of their members spans a range of disciplines.
https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-doSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that MMS records have been assigned to record group 473. The MMS is the predecessor agency to the BSEE. See the above "Establishment and Organization" section.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/473.htmlBusiness Opportunities
Information on doing business with the BSEE is available online.
http://www.bsee.gov/About-BSEE/Doing-Business-with-BSEE/indexCareer Opportunities
The BSEE relies on professionals with backgrounds in biology, geology, geophysics, engineering, and other fields to carry out its mission.
http://www.bsee.gov/careersIn 2019, the BSEE ranked 128th among 420 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/IN11Contact Information
To contact the BSEE, visit the "Connect With Us" web page, where addresses (email and postal) and phone numbers are available.
https://www.bsee.gov/who-we-are/connectDirector's Corner
Director Scott A. Angelle posts his thoughts and views on issues facing the BSEE and America's offshore oil and gas industry. "Energy Dominance Requires New Thinking" (SEP 2017) was the first piece that he posted.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/directors-cornerFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the BSEE has published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/safety-and-environmental-enforcement-bureauFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA gives the public the right to request Federal agency records and requires Federal agencies to make certain records available. The BSEE website serves as the portal to the agency's FOIA program. The FOIA is based on the principle of openness in Government: Any person has a right of access to Federal agency records, except to the extent that such records or portions of them are protected from disclosure by exemption or by special law-enforcement record exclusion.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/foiaThe BSEE maintains an electronic FOIA reading room.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/FOIA-Reading-RooomFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The BSEE promotes safety, protects the environment, and conserves resources offshore through regulatory oversight and enforcement. To carry out its mission, the BSEE relies on a wide range of world-class professionals. The BSEE posts answers to questions that its experts are asked frequently.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/frequently-asked-questions | Email: webmaster@bsee.govGlossary
This glossary contains common oil and gas exploration and leasing terms, many of which are unique to the drilling industry.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/glossaryNews
The BSEE newsroom contains feature stories, media advisories, news briefs, photos and videos, press releases, and posts from the Director. The briefing room contains annual reports, congressional testimony, factsheets, speeches, statements, and technical presentations.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroomOffshore Statistics
The BSEE posts offshore statistics and facts on its website.
https://www.bsee.gov/stats-factsReading Room
The Bureau's Deepwater Horizon electronic reading room contains documents that deal with the BP/Deepwater Horizon explosion and ensuing oil spill and that have been cleared for public release.
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/archive/deepwater-horizon-reading-roomRegional Offices
Information on the BSEE's three geographic regions—Alaska OCS, Gulf of Mexico OCS, and Pacific OCS—and their respective regional offices is available on the "BSEE Regions" web page.
http://www.bsee.gov/About-BSEE/BSEE-Regions/BSEE-RegionsSite Map
The website map helps visitors find specific topics or allows them to browse the site's contents.
https://www.bsee.gov/sitemapSocial Media
The BSEE has a Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/BSEEgov/The BSEE tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/BSEEgovThe Sources of Information were updated 4–2020.
National Park Service
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-6843
http://www.nps.gov
| DIRECTOR * | Charles F. Sams III |
The National Park Service (NPS) was established in the Department of the Interior on August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1).
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/index.htmThe National Park Service protects the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the benefit of present and future generations. The National Park System comprises 401 units. These units include national parks, monuments and memorials, battlefield sites and national military parks, scenic parkways, preserves and reserves, trails and riverways, rivers and lakeshores and seashores, recreation areas, and historic sites of American or international importance. The Service also manages a variety of national and international programs to promote natural and cultural resource conservation and to expand the benefits of outdoor recreation.
The NPS develops and implements park management plans and staffs the areas under its administration. Through exhibits, films, publications talks, tours, and other interpretive media, it promotes the natural values of these areas and communicates their historical significance to the public. The NPS operates a range of visitor facilities, including campgrounds, and provides a variety of food, lodging, and transportation services.
The National Park Service also administers the State portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, State comprehensive outdoor recreation planning, nationwide outdoor recreation coordination and information, the National Register of Historic Places and the National Trails System, natural area programs, national historic landmarks and historic preservation, technical preservation services, the historic American engineering record and buildings survey, interagency archeological services, and planning and technical assistance for the national wild and scenic rivers system.
Sources of Information
America the Beautiful Passes
A pass may be used at more than 2,000 Federal recreation sites. A pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees and day use fees at national forests and grasslands and at lands managed by the Bureaus of Land Management and Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Five types of America the Beautiful passes are available: access, annual, annual fourth grade, senior, and volunteer.
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htmBusiness Opportunities
Visit the "Doing Business With Us" Web page to find information on commercial tours, contracts and procurement, National Park concessions, and special park uses, including commercial filming.
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/doingbusinesswithus.htmCareer Opportunities
To find permanent and seasonal NPS career opportunities online, visit USAJobs, the Federal Government's official source for Federal job listings.
https://my.usajobs.govAdditional information on internships, permanent careers, seasonal opportunities, and volunteering is available on the "Work With Us" Web page.
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htmDirectories
An online text box allows Internet visitors to search for NPS employees by last name.
https://www.nps.gov/directoryA park directory (SEP 2016) that includes park addresses, codes, phone numbers, and superintendents is available online in Portable Document Format (PDF).
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/upload/NPS-Park-Listing-09-01-16.pdfFind a Park
NPS website visitors may search for a park by name or by State.
https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htmFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Instructions for submitting a FOIA request to obtain NPS records are available online.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/index.htmThe NPS maintains an electronic FOIA library on its website.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/foia-reading-room.htmFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The NPS posts answers to FAQs on its website.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/faqs.htmGlossaries
The NPS's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training maintains an extensive glossary of building stone terms.
https://ncptt.nps.gov/buildingstone/glossaryThe online series "Defining the Southwest" includes a glossary of terms that are often encountered in discussions of the cultures and environments of the American Southwest.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/southwest-glossary.htmA glossary of geologic terms that the NPS and U.S. Geological Survey western Earth surface processes team compiled is available on the NPS website.
http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/misc/glossaryAtoC.html | Email: parkgeology@den.nps.govGrants
Information is available online for grants authorized under the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Phone, 202-354-6900.
http://www.nps.gov/lwcf/index.htmInformation is also available online for grants authorized under the Historic Preservation Fund. Phone, 202-354-2067.
http://www.nps.gov/preservation-grantsNews
The NPS posts new releases online.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/news-releases.htmThe NPS website has a multimedia section that includes audio, photographs, videos, and webcam.
https://www.nps.gov/media/multimedia-search.htmThe NPS tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/natlparkserviceThe NPS maintains a Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/nationalparkservicePublications
To explain decisions, document information, and disseminate knowledge, the NPS uses a variety of publications, many of which are accessible online. For example, "The National Parks: Index 2012–2016" can be downloaded as a PDF. The "Publications" Web page offers online access to contemporary and historic reports, periodicals, virtual stacks, and public databases.
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/publications.htmSome publications are available for purchase in hardcopy from the U.S. Government Bookstore. Phone, 202-512-1800. Phone, 866-512-1800.
https://bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/222 | Email: contactcenter@gpo.govRegional Offices
Contact information is available online for NPS regional offices and parks and the Washington office.
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/contactinformation.htmFor further information, contact the Office of Communications, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240. Phone, 202-208-6843.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20240
202-208-2565
TDD, 202-208-2694
http://www.osmre.gov
| DIRECTOR * | (vacancy) |
| Deputy Director | Glenda H. Owens |
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) was established in the Department of the Interior by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1211).
http://www.osmre.gov/about.shtmThe OSMRE carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act in cooperation with States and tribes. The Office protects people and the environment from the adverse effects of coal mining. The OSMRE assures that land is restored to beneficial use after mining operations cease, and it mitigates the effects of past operations by reclamation of abandoned coal mines. The Office mainly oversees State mining regulatory and abandoned-mine reclamation programs, assists States in meeting the objectives of surface mining law, and regulates mining and reclamation activities on Federal and Indian lands and in those States opting not to assume primary responsibility for regulating coal mining and reclamation activities within their borders.
The Office establishes national policy for the surface mining control and reclamation program, reviews and approves amendments to previously approved State programs, and reviews and recommends approval of new State program submissions. It also manages the collection, disbursement, and accounting of abandoned-mine land reclamation fees; administers civil penalties programs; establishes technical standards and regulatory policy for reclamation and enforcement; offers guidance for environmental considerations, research, training, and technology transfers; and monitors and evaluates State and tribal regulatory programs, cooperative agreements, and abandoned-mine land reclamation programs.
Sources of Information
Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System
To provide information for implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the OSMRE maintains an inventory of land and water affected by past mining. The inventory contains information on the location, type, and extent of abandoned mine land impacts, as well as information on the reclamation costs. The inventory is based on field surveys by State, tribal, and OSMRE program officials.
https://amlis.osmre.gov/About.aspxBusiness Opportunities
Information to assist small business operators and owners is available online. For additional information, contact the Acquisition Management Branch. Phone, 202-208-2902.
http://www.osmre.gov/contacts/business.shtmCareer Opportunities
To find employment opportunities at the OSMRE, visit the "Jobs at OSMRE" Web page and click on the USAJobs quick link.
http://www.osmre.gov/contacts/jobs.shtmFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
A FOIA request for OSMRE records may be submitted via electronic or postal mail or by using the Department of the Interior's electronic request form and selecting "Office of Surface Mining" in the drop-down menu.
http://www.osmre.gov/lrg/foia.shtm | Email: foia@osmre.govFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The OSMRE posts answers to FAQs online.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources/FAQs.shtmThe OSMRE website also has a "How Do I?" section.
http://www.osmre.gov/howdoi.shtmGrants
Information on regulatory program grants and abandoned mine land grants is available on the OSMRE website.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources/grants.shtmLibrary
The general public may use the OSMRE online library catalog to locate legal and technical information.
http://o10007.eos-intl.net/O10007/OPAC/Index.aspxMine Maps
The National Mine Map Repository collects and maintains mine map information and images for the entire country.
http://mmr.osmre.govAn index that includes over 180,000 maps of closed and abandoned mines is available online. The index serves as an inventory for determining which maps are available. To obtain actual copies of maps, contact the National Mine Map Repository. Fax, 412-937-2888.
http://mmr.osmre.gov/MultiPub.aspxMost Requested Content
The OSMRE website maintains a collection of links for its most frequently requested web pages.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources/mostRequested.shtmNewsroom
The newsroom features OSMRE stories and news releases.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources/newsroom.shtmThe OSMRE tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/OSMREThe OSMRE has a Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/Office.of.Surface.Mining.Reclamation.EnforcementRegional Offices
Appalachian Region Office
http://www.arcc.osmre.gov/contacts.shtmMid-Continent Region Office
http://www.mcrcc.osmre.gov/contacts.shtmWestern Region Office
http://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/contacts.shtmResources
The OSMRE website has a section that is dedicated to electronic, informational resources.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources.shtmSite Map
The website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources/sitemap.shtmAn A–Z index is also available to help visitors find the information that they seek.
http://www.osmre.gov/resources/AtoZ.shtmTop Priorities
The OSMRE website has a section highlighting the agency's major programs.
https://www.osmre.gov/programs.shtmFor further information, contact the Office of Communications, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20240. Phone, 202-208-2565. TDD, 202-208-2694.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240
703-358-4545
http://www.fws.gov
| DIRECTOR * | Martha Williams |
CODEPUTY DIRECTORS
| Program Management and Policy | Bryan Arroyo |
| Stephen D. Guertin |
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the principal Federal agency dedicated to fish and wildlife conservation. The Service's history spans 145 years, dating from the establishment of its predecessor agency, the Bureau of Fisheries, in 1871. First created as an independent agency, the Bureau of Fisheries was later placed in the Department of Commerce. A second predecessor agency, the Bureau of Biological Survey, was established in 1885 in the Department of Agriculture. In 1939, the two Bureaus and their functions were transferred to the Department of the Interior. In 1940, they were consolidated into one agency and redesignated the Fish and Wildlife Service by Reorganization Plan No. 3 (5 U.S.C. app.).
http://training.fws.gov/history/USFWS-history.htmlThe USFWS statement of organization may be found in subchapter A, part 2, of 50 CFR.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=fd103790cdbf5f4aa28f53fa458756ca&mc=true&node=pt50.1.2&rgn=div5The USFWS works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 150-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which comprises 563 refuges and 38 wetland management districts. It operates 72 national fish hatcheries, a historic national fish hatchery, 65 fishery resource offices, and 81 ecological service field stations. The USFWS enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitats, and assists foreign governments with conservation. It also collects excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment and distributes the revenues to State fish and wildlife agencies.
The Service improves and maintains fish and wildlife resources by proper management of wildlife and habitat. It also helps meet public demand for wildlife dependent recreational activities by maintaining public lands and restoring native fish and wildlife populations.
Wildlife and fishery resource programs support the management of wildlife refuges on public lands. Wildlife-related activities include population control, migration and harvest surveys, and law and gaming enforcement for migratory and nonmigratory birds and mammals. Fishery-related activities include hatchery production monitoring, stocking, and fishery management. Fishery resource programs also provide technical assistance for coastal anadromous, Great Lakes, and other inland fisheries.
The USFWS identifies, protects, and restores endangered fish, wildlife, and plant species. It maintains Federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants that are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR 17.11 et seq.), conducts status surveys, prepares recovery plans, and coordinates national and international wildlife refuge operations.
The Service protects and improves land and water environments to benefit living natural resources and to enhance the quality of human life. It administers grant programs that help imperiled species, assists private landowners restore habitat, asses environmental impact and reviews potential environmental threats, manages Coastal Barrier Resource System mapping, monitors potential wildlife contaminants, and studies fish and wildlife population trends.
Public use and information activities include preparing informational brochures and maintaining public websites; coordinating environmental studies on USFWS lands; operating visitor centers, self-guided nature trails, observation towers, and display ponds; and promoting birdwatching, fishing, hunting, wildlife photography, and other forms of wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports the conservation and enhancement of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. Excise taxes on sporting arms and fishing equipment fund these efforts.
Sources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that USFWS records have been assigned to record group 022.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/022.htmlBlog
"Open Spaces—A Talk on the Wild Side" is the name of the official USFWS blog.
https://www.fws.gov/news/blogBusiness Opportunities
An online guide explains how to find business opportunities and to compete for them. Information is also available from regional offices and from the Division of Contracting and General Services in Falls Church, VA. Phone, 703-358-2500.
http://www.fws.gov/cfm/Small%20Business/BusinessWith.html | Email: small_business_opts@fws.govCareer Opportunities
Information on careers in conservation is available on the USFWS website. Additional information is available from USFWS regional offices and the Human Capital Office in Falls Church, VA. Phone, 703-358-1743.
https://www.fws.gov/humancapitalIn 2019, the USFWS ranked 157th among 420 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/IN15Climate Change
The USFWS website provides a collection of links and informational sources for learning about climate science and conservation in a changing climate.
https://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange/resources.htmlCrimes Against Wildlife
To report a violation of wildlife laws or to learn about enforcement of them, visit the "Office of Law Enforcement" website, contact the nearest regional law enforcement office, or call the Office of Law Enforcement in Falls Church, VA. Phone, 703-358-1949.
http://www.fws.gov/le | Email: lawenforcement@fws.govThe USFWS forensic laboratory is unique in its dedication to crimes against wildlife. Forensic experts examine, identify, and compare physical evidence to connect crime scenes, suspects, and victims with it.
https://www.fws.gov/labEndangered Species
The USFWS website features a search tool for learning about and identifying endangered species. The text boxes can search for an endangered species based on the State, U.S. Territory, or county where it lives, or according to its common or scientific name.
https://www.fws.gov/endangered/?ref=topbarAn online subscription form is available to receive breaking news affecting endangered species, endangered species news stories, and the "Endangered Species Bulletin" via email.
https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001ip3iEJ-xkvrgM_ZzpwhxaKQXTq4Cp14JEnergy Development
The USFWS website has a section that is dedicated to the development of domestic energy sources and its effect on wildlife.
https://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/energy-development/energy.htmlFederal Register
Significant documents, from 1995 (volume 60) to the present, and recent documents that the USFWS has published in the Federal Register are available online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/fish-and-wildlife-serviceFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The USFWS makes records available, by law, to the public to the greatest extent possible. The records that are being sought already may be posted online. If the information cannot be found online or if the location of the desired records is uncertain, consider contacting the USFWS FOIA public liaison before submitting a FOIA request.
https://www.fws.gov/irm/bpim/foia.html | Email: fwhq_foia@fws.govThe USFWS maintains an electronic FOIA library and FOIA reading room on its website.
https://www.fws.gov/irm/bpim/foiaread.htmlGlossaries
Ecological Services maintains an online glossary of terms found in environmental legislation.
https://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/about/glossary.htmlThe Midwest Region maintains an online glossary of terms associated with endangered species.
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/glossary/index.htmlThe USFWS website features a short glossary of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) terms in Portable Document Format (PDF).
https://www.fws.gov/r9esnepa/Intro/Glossary.PDFNational Wildlife Refuges
For information on the National Wildlife Refuge System, including information on specific wildlife refuges and wetland management districts, visit the "National Wildlife Refuge System" website. Phone, 800-344-9453.
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/index.htmlNews Media Inquiries
Journalists, reporters, and other media professionals seeking information or to arrange an interview should contact a regional public affairs officer or the Division of Public Affairs in Falls Church, VA. Phone, 703-358-2220.
http://www.fws.gov/external-affairs/contacts.htmlNewsroom
The USFWS posts news releases online.
https://www.fws.gov/newsPermits
Visit the "Do I Need a Permit" web page to learn the rules for importing, exporting, and reexporting protected species. Information on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permits and certificates is also available from the Division of Management Authority. Phone, 800-358-2104 or 703-358-2093.
http://www.fws.gov/international/permits/do-i-need-a-permit.html | Email: managementauthority@fws.govPublications
The USFWS national publications unit is headquartered at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. It is the primary distribution center for printed material published by the USFWS. The publications unit handles requests from Federal and State agencies, businesses, educators, and the general public. USFWS publications include booklets, brochures, posters, and reports. Phone, 800-344-9543.
http://nctc.fws.gov/resources/knowledge-resourcesSome publications may need to be ordered from the U.S. Government Bookstore, which the Government Publishing Office operates. Phone, 866-512-1800 (customer contact center). Phone, 202-512-0132 (store phone).
https://bookstore.gpo.gov | Email: ContactCenter@gpo.govRegional Offices
USFWS has regional offices that represent each of its geographic regions. Contact information for each of these regional offices is available on the USFWS website.
https://www.fws.gov/external-affairs/contacts.htmlThe Office of Law Enforcement, in addition to its national office in Falls Church, VA, maintains regional offices. Contact information for these offices is available on the USFWS website.
https://www.fws.gov/le/regional-law-enforcement-offices.htmlA State list of other USFWS offices and their contact information is also available online.
https://www.fws.gov/officesSocial Media
The USFWS uses social media to communicate and connect with Internet users worldwide. The agency tweets from its Twitter accounts; maintains an Instagram feed and Pinterest board; posts videos on its YouTube channel and photographs on Flickr; and has Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ pages.
http://www.fws.gov/home/socialmedia/index.html?ref=topbarWater Resource Development
The ecological services program includes USFWS participation in projects to develop water resources for meeting the needs of local communities and for conserving fish and wildlife. The USFWS works alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation when participating in these development projects.
https://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/energy-development/water.htmlThe Sources of Information were updated 5–2020.
United States Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
703-648-4000
http://www.usgs.gov | Email: ASK@usgs.gov
| DIRECTOR * | David Applegate |
DEPUTY DIRECTORS
| Administration and Policy | Roseann C. Gonzales-Schreiner |
| Operations | Cynthia L. Lodge |
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) was established by the Organic Act of March 3, 1879 (Ch. 182 / 20 Stat. 394 / 43 U.S.C. 31). Since March 3, 1879, the Survey has provided the United States with science information needed to make important land use and resource management policy decisions.
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/45th-congress/session-3/c45s3ch182.pdfThe USGS serves as the Earth and natural science research bureau for the Department of the Interior. It is the only integrated natural resources research agency in the Federal Government. USGS research and data support the Department's resource and land management information needs. Other Federal, State, tribal, and local government agencies rely on USGS research and data for their biological, climate, energy, mineral resources, natural hazards, and water information needs. Emergency response organizations, natural resource managers, land use planners, and other customers use USGS research and data to protect lives and property, to address environmental health issues, and to promote the public weal.
http://www.usgs.gov/about/about-us/who-we-areThe USGS conducts research, monitoring, and assessments to increase understanding of America's biological, land, and water resources. The Service informs American citizens and members of the global community by producing data, maps, and reports containing analyses and interpretations. These analyses and interpretations cover a range of topics: biological, energy, mineral, and water resources; land surfaces; marine environments; geologic structures; natural hazards; and dynamic processes of the Earth. Citizens, managers, and planners regularly use USGS data, analytical, and interpretive products to respond to and plan for changes in ecosystems and the environment.
The USGS has over 140 years of experience generating science-based data. In more than 400 science centers across the United States, the Service employs approximately 10,000 science and science-support staff, who work on locally, regionally, and nationally scaled studies, on research projects, and at sampling and monitoring sites.
https://www.usgs.gov/about/organizationSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that USGS records have been assigned to record group 057.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/057.htmlBusiness Opportunities
General information on contracting is available from the Office of Acquisition and Grants. Phone, 703-648-7376.
https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/administration/office-acquisition-and-grantsThe "Small Business Program" web page has resources to help small-business owners.
https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/administration/office-acquisition-and-grants/small-business?qt-science_support_page_related_con=1#qt-science_support_page_related_con | Email: gs_smallbusiness@usgs.govCareer Opportunities
The USGS relies on professionals with a range of expertise and diverse skills to carry out its mission. Many of these professionals have been educated and trained in various scientific disciplines: biology, cartography, chemistry, ecology, geology, geography, hydrology, and physics.
https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/employment-and-information-center | Email: hcweb@usgs.govIn 2019, the USGS ranked 168th among 420 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/IN08Contact Information
The "Contact USGS" web page has an electronic message form, as well as information on social media and web chat. Phone, 888-275-8747.
https://answers.usgs.govCritical Minerals List
On May 18, 2018, the Department of the Interior's Office of the Secretary published the notice "Final List of Critical Minerals 2018" in the Federal Register (83 FR 23295). The expertise of USGS staff plays a key role in reducing the Nation's vulnerability to disruptions in the supply of these minerals. On its website, the USGS posted the announcement "Interior Releases 2018's Final List of 35 Minerals Deemed Critical to U.S. National Security and the Economy." Each of the critical minerals is hyperlinked to a web page with statistics and other information on that particular mineral. Although the list is a final version, it should not be characterized as a permanent, but as a dynamic, list that will be updated.
https://www.usgs.gov/news/interior-releases-2018-s-final-list-35-minerals-deemed-critical-us-national-security-andEarthquakes for Kids
Earthquakes for kids provides online resources to help children and adults learn about earthquakes and earthquake science.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kidsFederal Register
Documents that the USGS recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/geological-surveyFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA electronic reading room contains documents related to the Flow Rate Technical Group in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These documents have been cleared for public release, and the USGS expects to publish additional documents to this collection. Before submitting a FOIA request for agency records, an information seeker should search this reading room and other Federal Government Deepwater Horizon electronic reading rooms for documents and information.
https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/foiaFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The USGS posts answers to FAQs on its website.
https://www.usgs.gov/faqGlossaries
A landslides glossary is available on the USGS website.
https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/landslide-hazards/science/landslides-glossary?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objectsThe earthquake hazards program includes an online glossary.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossaryThe Office of Budget, Planning, and Integration maintains an online glossary of common terms and financial terms.
https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/budget/glossaryA glossary of collections management terms is available online.
https://www.usgs.gov/products/scientific-collections/glossary-termsA Landsat glossary and list of acronyms are available online.
https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/nli/landsat/landsat-glossaryThe USGS published a glossary of glacier-related terms.
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1216/a/a.htmlA list of water-related terms and their definitions are available online.
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/dictionary-water-terms?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objectsHistory
Mary C. Rabbitt's "The United States Geological Survey: 1879–1989" is available in electronic form on the USGS website. It is a 110-year history of the relation of geology to the development of policies for public land, Federal science, and mapping, and to the development of mineral resources in the United States.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1050Landsat Satellite Missions
In 1966, former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall announced the launching of the Earth Resources Observation Satellites (EROS) project. His vision was to observe the Earth for the benefit of all. One of the purposes of the ongoing project is to collect valuable resource data and use them to improve the environmental quality of the biosphere.
https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/nli/landsat/landsat-satellite-missions?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_conLibrary
Established in 1879, the USGS library is now the largest library for earth sciences in the world. Professional librarians develop and maintain USGS library guides to connect users to relevant resources and research strategies.
https://usgs.libguides.com/home | Email: library@usgs.govNational Map
The National Map website offers Internet users a trove of topographical information.
https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geospatial-program/national-mapNatural Hazards
Information on the programs and activities of the natural hazards mission—including information on earthquakes, flooding, landslides, volcanoes, and wildfires—is available online.
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/natural-hazardsNews
The USGS posts national and State news items.
https://www.usgs.gov/news/news-releasesPublications
The USGS publications warehouse provides access to over 130,000 publications written by USGS scientists throughout the agency's history.
https://pubs.er.usgs.govScience Snippets
The USGS posts fun facts and interesting snippets of science.
https://www.usgs.gov/news/science-snippetsSite Map
The Website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.usgs.gov/sitemapUSGS Store
Educational materials, Federal recreation passes, maps, scientific reports, and more are available from the online USGS Store.
https://store.usgs.govSocial Media
The USGS maintains a presence on social media.
https://www.usgs.gov/connect/social-mediaVolcanic Activity Alerts
Information on U.S. volcanoes and current activity alerts are available on the "Volcano Hazards" web page.
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoWater Resources
Reliable, impartial, and timely information on the Nation's water resources is available on the "Water Resources" web page. Phone, 888-275-8747.
http://www.usgs.gov/waterA nationwide list of all of the USGS water resources mission area science centers and regions and hubs for critical water science that Federal, State, and other partners and stakeholders fund is available online.
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/about/water-resources-mission-area-science-centers-and-regionsWetlands and Aquatics Research
The Wetlands and Aquatics Research Center conducts research, develops new approaches and technologies, and disseminates scientific information that is needed for understanding, managing, conserving, and restoring wetlands and other aquatic and coastal ecosystems and their associated plant and animal communities throughout the Nation and the world.
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/wetland-and-aquatic-research-center-warcThe Sources of Information were updated 12–2020.