President Obama’s proposed $12.2 billion budget for Interior in FY 2011 is a fiscally responsible plan that will enable the nation’s largest land manager to carry out its stewardship responsibilities more effectively while making strategic investments in priority initiatives that address major challenges facing the nation. Secretary Salazar said:

The President is making tough choices in difficult economic times, cutting costs and holding the line on spending by ending ineffective programs and supporting cost-efficient initiatives. Through our collective effort in protecting America’s natural resources and cultural resources heritage, we support 1.3 million jobs and generate over $370 billion in economic activity each year. Interior plays a key role in responsibly developing America’s new energy frontier, tackling the impacts of climate change, preserving America’s treasured landscapes and empowering Tribal nations.

The 2011 budget continues the Secretary’s aggressive agenda for reform. The Administration’s request for Interior contains $750 million in reductions and terminations of lower priority programs and elimination of one-time funding. The 2011 budget is $38.7 million or 0.3 percent below the level enacted by Congress for 2010.

The budget proposes investments for high priority goals and initiatives that move the Department in a new direction. In 2010 the Department began an aggressive program to tackle these challenges and the 2011 budget continues these areas, including the following:

* Implementing a comprehensive New Energy Frontier strategy that creates jobs, reduces the Nation’s dependence on foreign oil and reduces carbon emissions. The budget proposes a $73 million investment in renewable energy programs, an increase of $14.2 million over 2010; and $4.4 million in increases to support oil and natural gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf;
* Confronting the realities of climate change through an integrated strategy for Climate Change Adaptation. The proposed budget seeks $171.3 million for this initiative, an increase of $35.4 million over 2010, to carry out the Department’s integrated program.
* Tackling the water challenges facing the country with a new strategy to Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow (WaterSMART). The budget contains $72.9 million for this initiative, an increase of $36.4 million over 2010.
* Engaging America’s Youth in Natural Resources. The 2011 budget contains $45.4 million to engage, employ and educate the next generation of conservation leaders, an increase of $9.3 million to help our children get close to nature while conserving the natural resources on which their future depends.
* Developing a 21st Century conservation agenda that protects Treasured Landscapes. In addition to funding national parks, refuges and recreation areas, the 2011 DOI budget includes increases of $106.0 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund programs and $71.4 million in other key investments in restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay, California’s Bay Delta, the Gulf Coast, Klamath River Basin, and Everglades.
* Honoring trust responsibilities and Empowering Tribal Nations. The budget calls for a total of $2.6 billion to honor our commitments to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including new investments in tribal self-determination, law enforcement, trust management and tribal self-determination.doi.gov