U.S+Department+of+the+Interior

Leadership of the Department: Lead by Secretary Ken Salazar

Mission Statement of the Department: The Department of the Interior's mission is 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.

History of the Department:
 * Congress created the Department of the Interior in 1849.
 * DOI manages **500** million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of the land in the United States.
 * DOI has responsibility for managing a variety of water and underwater resources.
 * **56.9** million visits to **3,602** recreational sites provided by the Bureau of Land Management
 * **274** million visits to **391** national park units, including parks, monuments, seashore sites, battlefields and other cultural and recreational sites provided b y National Park Service
 * **52.7** million acres of land belong to Indian tribes and individuals
 * Energy projects on federally managed lands and offshore areas supply about **30** percent of the nation's energy production
 * U.S Geological Survey scientists monitor, analyze, interpret, and disseminate information on earthquakes, volcanoes, and the geology and topography of the U.S. They also produce more than **55,000** different maps and estimate world and United States energy and mineral supplies.
 * Protect **1,932** endangered or threatened species, **1,358** are U.S.

Bureaus under the Department: Department of the Interior Main Issues
 * The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) responsibility is the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives.
 * The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 264 million acres of surface acres of public lands located primarily in the 12 Western States, including Alaska.
 *  The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.
 *  The Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau within the Department of Interior, regulates and manages the development of mineral resources in the Federal waters off the nation's shores.
 * Created by Congress on August 25, 1916, the National Park Service (NPS) preserves, unimpaired, the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
 *  The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) mission is to carry out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act in cooperation with States and Tribes.
 * <span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial; border-collapse: collapse; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the only agency of the U.S. Government whose primary responsibility is fish, wildlife, and plant conservation.
 * <span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; border-collapse: collapse; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves the Nation as an independent fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.
 * Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - Commented on by Meghan Gilley
 * http://www.doi.gov/news/avianflu/avianflu.html
 * <span style="font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse;">The Department of the Interior plays an integral role in helping to control the Avian Influenza. The DOI is involved in monitoring and testing migratory birds for Avian Influenza. The DOI also have the responsibility of protecting the employees and visitors on more than 500 million acres of federal land across the nation. The Department of the Interior also has the responsibility to provide the public timely, accurate, and consistent information about the Avian Influenza.


 * http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm
 * Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally in birds. There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes of influenza A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination represents a different subtype. The risk from avian influenza is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. However, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected birds.Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. Their is no 100% accurate cure for the avian flu but further research is being conducted to find a cure


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 * Avian influenza - commonly called "bird flu" - is an infection caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally in birds. Wild birds can carry the viruses, but usually do not get sick from them. Symptoms in birds and other animals vary, but virulent strains can cause death within a few days. Currently, close contact with infected poultry has been the primary source for human infection. Human's can reduce their chances of contracting the Avian Influenza by getting vaccinated against the disease.

President Obama should continue cleaning up the cities and continue to try and make them grow with more land and trees to help clean up our air. The president should continue this act all across the country until the cities all are cleaner places to live.
 * Making Manhattan a Greener city: By Kacie McManus
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 * The article talks about the amount of space that is used in Manhattan and the number of acres that the city can be using for more room. They talk about different solutions to help the city find new room. They talk about expanding the city on some of the piers for more space. The piers can add at least a couple of acres. This will help with the pollution and the number of people being so close together.
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 * The Lower Manhattan historic area is having an array of projects done to make it a greener place. They are going to improve the waterfront access and open new active recreation spaces for lower manhattan's workers, this also helps the tourists and growing residential population. The citys Department of parks and recreation and the Department of Transportation and department city planning will implement over $100 million in open space projects. This will give the residential population and also the tourists a place to play.
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 * Manhattan is one of the greenest cities in america because it does have the advantage of smaller places to live and less cars. The electrical bills are cheaper becuase you don't have enouht space or money to have technolgy. Also you get to walk to wherever you need to go and if it is far then you can use transportation. But this saves the air from toxic waste. The key to Manhattans success is its extreme compactness.
 * 2 Questions to be Answered about the Department of the Interior-
 * Based on the information about the many bureaus under the DOI what do you think is the most important bureau and why?
 * What is the mission of the Department of the Interior?

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