into the Bureau of Land Management.1977 The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is established to oversee state regulation of strip coal mining and repair of environmental damage. What are the responsibilities of the Department of Interior?As the nation's principal conservation agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. From its establishment in 1849, the Department has managed many varied programs including Indian Affairs, administering land grants, improving historic western emigrant routes, marking boundaries, and conducting research on geological resources. The Department's mission is (1) to encourage and provide for the appropriate management, preservation, and operation of the Nation's public lands and natural resources for use and enjoyment both now and in the future; (2) to carry out related scientific research and investigations in support of these objectives; (3) to develop and use resources in an environmentally sound manner, and provide an equitable return on these resources to the American taxpayer; and (4) to carry out trust responsibilities of the U.S. Government with respect to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Department collects revenues from the leasing of natural gas and oil resources, both offshore and onshore; from coal, timber, and grazing on Federal lands, and from numerous other sources, such as recreation fees. It also receives money from the federal government in which it distributes among the many bureaus. Each year the Dept of the Interior receives an estimated budget from these bureaus and submits them along with its own to an appropriations committee. If approved The Dept. receives that money. Attached is the simplest break down of the Dept.s budget. The Department of the Interior is comprised of a number of bureaus and offices including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of lan...
