DOI Kempthorn signs Climate Change Order
Provides guidance to Department of Interior on responses to emerging climate change issues
January 22, 2009
As one of his last actions before leaving the Department of Interior, Secretary Dirk Kempthorn signed a Secretarial Order on climate change which expands Interior bureaus responsibilities in addressing climate change.
The purpose of the Special Order is to "provide guidance to bureaus and offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) on how to provide leadership by developing timely responses to emerging climate change issues. This Order replaces Secretarial Order No. 3226, signed on January 19, 2001, entitled "Evaluating Climate Change Impacts in Management Planning." It is intended to reaffirm efforts within DOI that are ongoing with respect to this important issue."
Basic provisions include planning and management for climate change, carbon sequestration, and energy conservation.
The text of the amended order is below:
________________________________________________
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Washington
ORDER NO. 3226, Amendment No. 1
SIGNATURE DATE: January 16, 2009
Subject: Climate Change and the Department of the Interior
Sec. 1 Purpose. This Order provides guidance to bureaus and offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) on how to provide leadership by developing timely responses to emerging climate change issues. This Order replaces Secretarial Order No. 3226, signed on January 19, 2001, entitled "Evaluating Climate Change Impacts in Management Planning." It is intended to reaffirm efforts within DOI that are ongoing with respect to this important issue.
Sec. 2 Background. In 2003, 12 major industrial sectors responded to a challenge from President Bush to develop new, voluntary initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over a ten-year period. The President also created an interagency, cabinet-level committee to coordinate and prioritize Federal research on global climate science and advanced energy technologies. In 2005, the United States released a draft 10-year Strategic Plan for the U.S. components of the integrated global Earth Observation System. In addition to finding ways to prevent greenhouse gas emissions, the United States has recognized the need to focus on mitigation and adaptation activities. DOI, in partnership with States, Tribes, local governments, and private landowners, is in an excellent position to identify changes in the national landscape that may result from climate change, develop adaptation strategies for managing natural and cultural resources affected by such changes, deploy renewable energy sources, provide both geologic and terrestrial carbon sequestration alternatives, and implement energy conservation measures. In 2007, a Climate Change Task Force was created within DOI to study climate change and its effects on the responsibilities of the Department. The Task Force included three subcommittees that developed options for actions DOI should consider with respect to legal and policy issues, land and water management issues; and climate change scientific issues specifically related to DOI’s responsibilities.
Sec. 3 Authority. This Order is issued in accordance with the authorities contained in: Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App.; 5 U.S.C. § 301; 43 U.S.C. § 1451; and 43 U.S.C. § 1453.
Sec. 4 Bureau and Office Planning and Management Responsibilities. Each bureau and office of DOI shall, in a manner consistent and compatible with their respective missions:
a. Consider and analyze potential climate change impacts when undertaking long-range planning exercises, setting priorities for scientific research and investigations, and/or when making major decisions affecting DOI resources.
b. Review the Climate Change Task Force subcommittee reports posted on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website on December 3, 2008, and the resulting comments submitted to the Department by the public.
c. Review the Climate Change Task Force subcommittee reports posted on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website on December 3, 2008, and the resulting comments submitted to the Department by the public. Review all existing programs, facilities, boundaries, policies, and authorities under the respective bureau or office to identify potential impacts of climate change on the bureau’s or office’s areas of responsibility and to recommend a set of response actions ,
d. Identify to the Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management and Budget through the annual budget process all issue areas where action is needed to make budget adjustments necessary to carry out the actions identified in Section 4C.
e. Identify for the Solicitor’s office all issue areas where legal analysis is needed to make the adjustments necessary to carry out the actions identified in Section 4C.
f. Ensure that any policy review conducted, or policy guidance produced, by the bureau or office that has as a major focus potential climate change impacts or climate change adaptation or mitigation, is coordinated with the Climate Change Coordinator within the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
g. Use Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide, as a framework for managing natural resources and develop, as needed, more tailored adaptive management handbooks specific to the resource responsibilities and institutional arrangements of that bureau or office.
h. Partner, consistent with existing policies, authorities, and programs, with State, local, and private bodies and individuals in support of projects and activities that contribute to the conservation of species, natural communities, and lands and waters placed at risk by changing climate conditions.
i. Provide incentives for activities to encourage the sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide.
j. As appropriate, work with USGS on DOI’s Climate Effects Network with the goal of integrating science, monitoring, and modeling information.
k. As appropriate, work with USGS on the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center in order to develop effective resource management adaptation strategies related to climate change impacts on fish and wildlife.
Sec. 5 Carbon Sequestration Program. The Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement shall each, consistent and compatible with their respective missions:
a. Identify a terrestrial sequestration program for greenhouse gases, consistent with available financial and other resources, aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide;
b. Utilize existing policies and regulations, programs, and expertise to work with private landowners and greenhouse gas emitters to identify opportunities to restore habitat while helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions; and
c. In accordance with the Energy Security Act of 2007, work with the USGS to inventory and characterize lands managed or regulated, as appropriate, by the bureau for possible geological and biological greenhouse gas sequestration.
Sec. 6 Bureau and Office Energy Conservation Responsibilities. As a component of climate change management, each bureau and office of DOI shall report as part of the President’s Management Agenda Scorecard, the steps being undertaken to implement Executive Order 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management," dated January 24, 2007, which includes requirements to:
a. improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
b. ensure that at least half of the statutorily required renewable energy consumed by that bureau or office comes from new renewable sources;
c implement renewable energy generation projects on lands managed or occupied by the bureau or office;
d. reduce water consumption intensity;
e. acquire goods and services that consider sustainable environmental practices and utilize paper containing 30 percent post-consumer fiber content;
f. reduce the quantity of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials acquired, used, or disposed of by the bureau or office; increase diversion of solid waste as appropriate; and maintain cost-effective waste prevention and recycling programs in its facilities;
g. ensure that new construction and major renovation of agency buildings comply with sustainable practice requirements;
h. ensure that bureaus or offices operating a fleet of at least 20 motor vehicles, reduce the fleet’s total consumption of petroleum products, increase the total fuel consumption that is non-petroleum-based, and, when cost-effective, uses plug-in hybrid vehicles when they are commercially available;
i. ensure that the bureau or office, when acquiring electronic products to meet its requirements, uses Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered electronic products, if available;
j. purchase Energy Star compliant equipment when selecting agency computers and monitors;
k. establish and implement policies to extend the useful life of agency electronic equipment; and
l. use environmentally sound practices with respect to disposition of agency electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
Sec. 7 Effective Date. This Order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until its provisions are converted to the Departmental Manual or until it is amended, superseded, or revoked, whichever occurs first. In the absence of any of the foregoing actions, the provisions of this Order will terminate and be considered obsolete on December 31, 2014. The termination of this Order will not nullify implementation of the requirements and responsibilities effected herein.
/s/ DIRK KEMPTHORNE
Secretary of the Interior
SO#3226A1 1/16/09
Replaces SO#3226 1/19/01
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