Date: May 13, 2009
Contact: Frank Quimby
(202) 208-6416
Secretary Salazar Announces Department of the Interior Economic Stimulus Projects in South Dakota
Washington, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the Department of the Interior’s projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for South Dakota. Across its Bureaus, the Department will invest $200.5 million in South Dakota as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.
“As the steward of America’s resources, our Department has a unique responsibility to carry out its mission in a transparent, open manner by arriving at policy decisions based on public input and ‘best science’ practices,” said Secretary Salazar. “After a rigorous process of identifying merit-based projects that truly reflect the longstanding mission and priorities of our Bureaus, I am confident these investments meet the highest standards and will accomplish the goals as outlined by President Obama.”
DOI’s ARRA investments in South Dakota support President Obama and Secretary Salazar’s ambitious goals to build America’s new energy future, to protect and restore our treasured landscapes, to create a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, to address America’s water challenges, and to empower Native American communities.
Highlights of Initiatives funded through ARRA in South Dakota include:
Bureau of Indian Affairs – $101.8 million in funding
- Multiple construction and housing improvement projects such as the construction of 10 new homes with geothermal energy on the Oglala Sioux reservation and another 10 on the Rosebud reservation
- Roads and bridges maintenance
- Workforce training
Bureau of Reclamation – $86.2 million in funding
- Multiple projects in Angostura Unit including Shep’s Canyon west side road rehab
- Paving of Fisherman Road and the addition of boundary fencing at the Belle Fourche Unit.
National Park Service – $9 million in funding
- Rehabilitation of Loop Road and the replacement of deteriorated boardwalk on Cliff Shelf Trail in Badlands National Park
U.S. Geological Survey – $2 million in funding
- Deferred Maintenance
- Streamgage upgrades
Fish & Wildlife Service – $1.1 million in funding
- Creation of a South Dakota Invasives Team to respond rapidly to new invasive plant species infestations in the Waubay National Wildlife Refuge
- Repair of DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery’s only road and canal rock wall destroyed by a 100 year flood event
Bureau of Land Management – $354,000 in funding
- Multiple projects including habitat restoration, trails maintenance, construction and deferred maintenance
- Roads and bridges maintenance
Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General to ensure that the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency that President Obama has set.
For a complete list of projects in South Dakota, please click here: http://recovery.doi.gov/SD
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