U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces 91 Projects in Northeast Region Under President's Economic Recovery Plan
Hadley, Mass. – From northern New England south to Virginia,the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will undertake 91 construction, energy efficiency, habitat restoration and other improvement projects at national wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries and other public and private lands to create jobs and ensure our nation’s fish and wildlife resources, treasured landscapes, and rich heritage are conserved for future generations, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.
These projects total approximately $34.7 million for improvements within the Northeast.
Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges. Projects will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.
“These projects are an investment in America’s future that will help get our country moving again,” Salazar said. “They will enable us to preserve our rich history and natural heritage by conserving and restoring awe-inspiring landscapes, important historic sites and crucial wildlife habitat.”
The $34.7 million amount announced today for the Northeast Region will go to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projects, including:
* Capital Improvements: $1.86 million
* Deferred Maintenance of facilities and infrastructure: $10.8 million
* Habitat Restoration: $3.04 million
* Reconstruction and Repair of Service buildings and other structures: $19.03 million
The 91projects are spread across 12 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. They will benefit National Wildlife Refuges such as the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, where more than $9 million will be spent to create an energy-efficient administrative and visitor services facility for nine refuges within the metropolitan New York City area; Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland, where funding will be used to modernize facilities that will support world-class science for wildlife conservation; and fishery assets such as Allegheny National Fish Hatchery in Pennsylvania, where $1.5 million will be spent to re-open this facility to support lake trout recovery.
“These projects will increase our ability to deliver quality outdoor experiences to the American people, improve our infrastructure as models of energy efficiency, and create youth employment opportunities in our ongoing work to conserve fish and wildlife resources for future generations,” said Marvin Moriarty, northeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
All the projects announced today represent long-standing priority needs identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its capital planning process. The Service worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.
Under the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless natural and historical treasures, while also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.
For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov/. 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 the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables the public to track where and how the Department’s recovery dollars are being spent. In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at recoveryact@fws.gov.
Secretary Salazar also 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 the Recovery Program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency that President Obama has set.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
Hadley, Mass. – From northern New England south to Virginia,the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will undertake 91 construction, energy efficiency, habitat restoration and other improvement projects at national wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries and other public and private lands to create jobs and ensure our nation’s fish and wildlife resources, treasured landscapes, and rich heritage are conserved for future generations, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.
These projects total approximately $34.7 million for improvements within the Northeast.
Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges. Projects will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.
“These projects are an investment in America’s future that will help get our country moving again,” Salazar said. “They will enable us to preserve our rich history and natural heritage by conserving and restoring awe-inspiring landscapes, important historic sites and crucial wildlife habitat.”
The $34.7 million amount announced today for the Northeast Region will go to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projects, including:
* Capital Improvements: $1.86 million
* Deferred Maintenance of facilities and infrastructure: $10.8 million
* Habitat Restoration: $3.04 million
* Reconstruction and Repair of Service buildings and other structures: $19.03 million
The 91projects are spread across 12 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. They will benefit National Wildlife Refuges such as the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, where more than $9 million will be spent to create an energy-efficient administrative and visitor services facility for nine refuges within the metropolitan New York City area; Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland, where funding will be used to modernize facilities that will support world-class science for wildlife conservation; and fishery assets such as Allegheny National Fish Hatchery in Pennsylvania, where $1.5 million will be spent to re-open this facility to support lake trout recovery.
“These projects will increase our ability to deliver quality outdoor experiences to the American people, improve our infrastructure as models of energy efficiency, and create youth employment opportunities in our ongoing work to conserve fish and wildlife resources for future generations,” said Marvin Moriarty, northeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
All the projects announced today represent long-standing priority needs identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its capital planning process. The Service worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.
Under the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless natural and historical treasures, while also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.
For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov/. 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 the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables the public to track where and how the Department’s recovery dollars are being spent. In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at recoveryact@fws.gov.
Secretary Salazar also 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 the Recovery Program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency that President Obama has set.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.