April 27, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI), through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will provide nearly $1 million to Nebraska to support maintenance and energy conservation projects for Nebraska’s wildlife refuges and wetlands as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
 
“This funding helps to address a variety of needs among Nebraska’s wildlife refuges and wetlands,” said Senator Nelson. “These projects create and sustain Nebraskan jobs, boost energy conservation, and protect and maintain Nebraska’s environmental treasures.”
 
  The funding is divided among six refuges and wetland areas in Nebraska, which includes:

• The Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District, which is receiving $54,000 for repairs and replacements of well pumps and engines.
• Boyer Park National Wildlife Refuge, which is receiving $250,000 for shop building, energy conservation retrofitting, and geothermal energy conversion.
• Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, which is receiving $575,000 to replace the West and South Boundary Bison fencing.
• Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which is receiving $59,000 to repair the main shop building.
• Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, which is receiving $26,000 to repair the water control structures.

Each of these projects has been identified by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service as a priority need. The agency used a merit-based process to select projects that met the criteria established by the ARRA. These projects have been determined to address the highest priorities of the DOI, generate the largest amount of jobs in the shortest period of time, and make valuable and sustaining investments for the public.
 
“Maintenance work is critically important to maintaining high quality wildlife habitat,” according to Steve Donovan, Manager of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited. “For example, replacing the well on Massie Waterfowl Production Area in Clay County will allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to maintain adequate water levels during spring migration, providing important habitat to millions of migratory birds that depend on Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin each spring.”
 
Senator Nelson played a key role in the passage of the $787 billion stimulus bill. He worked with a bipartisan group of nearly 20 Senators to better focus The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on tax cuts for the middle class and job creation for millions of Americans. Senator Nelson led the group through the initial bill line by line, dollar by dollar, to reduce spending and cut out $108 billion of inefficient or less-stimulative spending. The bipartisan group helped the improved bill win congressional approval. President Obama signed it into law February 17, 2009.
   
  Senator Nelson is posting information about the release of stimulus finds on his website as it becomes available.  Visit http://bennelson.senate.gov/issues/stimulus/index.cfm for more information.

###

Search:   Economy, Environment, Press