Press Releases

The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which designates a preferred course of action for future management of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The preferred alternative establishes an adaptive decision framework to be used to develop operating guidelines designed to ensure reliable operations in the Colorado River Basin while maintaining the flexibility to respond to changing conditions over a 10-year period through 2036. The framework also preserves the opportunity for the Basin to continue working towards consensus agreements, and if successful, be incorporated into future operations.

On Friday, July 24, U.S. Wildland Fire Service firefighter Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died from injuries sustained while responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado on June 27.

The Department of the Interior today released a U.S. Geological Survey report on coal resources beneath federally managed public lands in the United States, estimating that there are 4.2 billion short tons of reported coal reserves associated with active mines and an additional 356 billion short tons of available coal resources. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior today highlighted its extensive contributions to the Genesis Mission, a government-wide initiative led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy that harnesses artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen American Energy Dominance and bolster national security.

Today, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) announces additional, necessary revisions to regulations under the Endangered Species Act.

Today, the Department of the Interior announced a revised proposal to increase management flexibility for grizzly bears in areas where the species has met, and in many cases exceeded, federal recovery benchmarks. The updated management proposal ensures the Endangered Species Act is being used as Congress intended while continuing to support the species' long-term conservation. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum was joined by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Idaho Governor Brad Little and Fish and Wildlife Director Brian Nesvik for the announcement.

Today, the Department of the Interior announced the launch of the Electronic Probate System, a secure digital platform that modernizes how probate cases are managed for American Indian and Alaska Native families across Indian Country.

Department of the Interior law enforcement officers, in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, have successfully disrupted a major narcotics operation in California. This joint, multi-day operation resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, marking a major milestone in ongoing collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

The Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce today announced they have finalized a rule rescinding the outdated regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act.

The Department of the Interior is seeking public input related to identifying and developing long-distance biking trails, as part of work underway to implement provisions of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act.