U.S. Department of the Interior

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U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), created in 1849, is the "nation's principal conservation agency" with its mission "to protect America's treasures for future generations, provide access to our nation's natural and cultural heritage, offer recreation opportunities, honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and our responsibilities to island communities, conduct scientific research, provide wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, foster sound use of land and water resources, and conserve and protect fish and wildlife," its website states.[1]

Federal coal leasing

For more details, see the article Federal coal leasing.

The Department of the Interior controls about a third of U.S. coal reserves, administered through the federal coal leasing program of the Bureau of Land Management . Federal coal is concentrated mainly west of the Mississippi. Most of the coal leased in the key Powder River Basin is federally owned.

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947, as amended, give the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) responsibility for coal leasing on about 570 million acres of BLM, national forest and other Federal lands, as well as private lands where the mineral rights have been retained by the Federal Government. The BLM is charged with assuing that the development of coal resources is done in an environmentally sound manner and is in the best interests of the Nation.[2]

Regulations that govern the BLM's coal leasing program are in Title 43, Groups 3000 and 3400 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR is also available on-line from the Government Printing Office (www.access.gpo.gov).[2]

Key personnel

See links to DOI key personnel biographical profiles (Last Updated October 24, 2006).

Organization

Initiatives

Contact details

U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
Telephone: 202-208-3100
E-Mail: webteam AT ios.doi.gov
URL: http://www.doi.gov/

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

References

  1. "DOI Quick Facts," U.S. Department of Interior website, accessed December 26, 2010
  2. 2.0 2.1 "The Federal Coal Leasing Program," US Bureau of Land Management

External resources

External articles