Highlights from the President's FY17 Department of the Interior Budget Request
Enacted FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.
The president’s FY17 budget request for the Department of the Interior (DOI) would provide $13.4 billion (0.5percent increase) in discretionary funding. DOI’s primary research agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) would receive $1.2 billion (10.1 percent increase). With the proposed funding levels, DOI would participate in cross-agency initiatives related to Arctic research, water infrastructure, clean energy, climate change and economic realignment for coal communities.
USGS collaborates with federal, state and tribal partners to conduct research and provide scientific data concerning natural hazards and environmental issues, including water, land, geological and biological resources. Almost all of USGS’s funding is devoted to its Surveys, Investigations and Research activities. Research programs include:
- Water Resources - $228 million (8.2 percent increase)
- Ecosystems - $173.9 million (8.6 percent increase)
- Climate and Land Use Change - $171.4 million (22.5 percent increase)
- Natural Hazards – $149.7 million (7.7 percent increase)
- Core Science Systems - $118.4 million (6.1 percent increase)
- Facilities – $117.3 million (16.8 percent increase)
- Science Support - $110.6 million (4.7 percent increase)
- Energy and Minerals Resources and Environmental Health - $99.5 million (5.3 percent increase)
Water programs would receive a particularly large boost, associated with DOI’s WaterSMART initiative. This funding is part of the administration’s cross-agency water innovation effort, involving investments at USDA, NSF and DOES, as well as DOI. WaterSMART funding totals $98.6 million, spanning USGS research programs in Ecosystems, Environments, Climate and Land Use Change, Core Science Systems and Water Resources, as well as multiple programs within the Bureau of Reclamation.
The DOI request includes $97.3 million (3.3 percent increase) for renewable energy initiatives in multiple agencies.
DOI would participate in the cross-agency effort to assist communities impacted by changes in the coal economy. As part of the POWER+ initiative, the budget includes $1 billion to states and tribes, administered by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to help reclaim mine land sites and polluted water to promote redevelopment.
DOI’s FY17 request includes a proposal for a 10-year, $2 billion (mandatory) Coastal Climate Resilience program. Funds would be used to provide resources to at-risk coastal states, local governments and communities to prepare for and adapt to climate change. A portion will be set aside specifically for Alaskan communities.
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