WASHINGTON. D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has announced $50 million in approved funding to rebuild some U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service infrastructure, including a grant to the Quilcene National Fish Hatchery.
The $422,000 to the Quilcene hatchery will fund deck repair.
Maintenance and repair projects contribute to a $1.4 billion backlog facing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to the Department of the Interior.
“The president is a builder, he loves to build and he loves our public lands, so it is a natural fit that the Trump administration is dedicating so much attention to rebuilding our aging Fish and Wildlife Service infrastructure,” Zinke said in a news release.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 566 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management areas and operates national fish hatcheries, fish technology centers and fish health centers.
Today’s announcement is another step toward eliminating the $1.4 billion in maintenance facing our nation’s refuges and hatcheries,” Zinke said.
“It’s another step toward prioritizing infrastructure because it is an investment that bolsters local economies. And it is another step in prioritizing access for all Americans to our public lands.”
In April, Zinke signed a memorandum of understanding committing Interior to follow President Donald Trump’s One Federal Decision framework for processing of environmental reviews and permits for major infrastructure projects.
In March, Interior announced the secretary’s partnership with Congress on a bipartisan bill to address rebuild and repair National Park Service infrastructure.
