WASHINGTON - The U.S. Interior Department 2010 budget contains $12 billion to protect lands and waters as well as promote energy security, the White House said.
National park protection and preservation initiatives would receive $100 billion in additional funds, and an additional $25 million would be available to leverage private donations in the department's budget proposal presented by President Barack Obama Thursday.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund will receive $420 million with annual increases to reach full funding of $900 million by 2014, the budget document said.
State and federal land management agencies would be aided by more than $130 million in additional funding to monitor, manage and assess impacts of climate change on U.S. lands, fish and wildlife.
An increase of more than $100 million for enhanced law enforcement would help to strengthen Native American communities, the budget document said.
The budget provides $75 million to create a contingency funding reserve to offset future costs for fighting catastrophic wildfires. Renewable energy projects on federal lands and waters would be encouraged with an allocation of more than $50 million.
The Interior Department allocation also would close loopholes that have given oil companies what the administration called excessive royalty relief for offshore leases.
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