Eric D. Colburn, PLS

Professional Land Surveyor News

The U.S. Air Force chose Raytheon to develop a new element of the Global Positioning System (GPS), called the Advanced Control Segment (OCX), which will improve the accuracy of information from GPS satellites.

February 25, 2010

The U.S. Air Force selected Raytheon for a contract of $886 million to develop a new element of the Global Positioning System (GPS), called the Advanced Control Segment (OCX), to improve the accuracy of information from GPS satellites.

The new segment will include anti-jam capabilities and improved security, accuracy, and reliability. It will be based on a modern service-oriented architecture to integrate government and industry open-system standards.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

President Proposes $1.1 Billion for BLM in Fiscal Year 2011 to Protect Resources and Manage Uses of Public Lands

With a focus on renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, and other key priorities, President Obama today requested $1.1 billion in appropriations for the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management in Fiscal Year 2011. This represents an $8.0 million increase from the BLM’s FY 2010 enacted funding level.  The President’s request reflects his continuing commitment to be prudent with taxpayer dollars while setting priorities for spending.

“Today’s budget proposal will advance the BLM’s mission of protecting the land’s resources while facilitating environmentally sound use of America’s public lands,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “Under this proposal, we can and will meet the challenges facing our agency in today’s fast-growing West.” Under the President’s proposed budget, the BLM will focus on the following priorities:

New Energy Frontier

The New Energy Frontier initiative recognizes the value of environmentally sound, scientifically grounded development of both renewable and conventional energy resources on the Nation’s public lands. To encourage and facilitate renewable energy development, the President’s FY 2011 BLM budget proposes a $3.0 million increase that builds on the $16.1 million increase for renewable energy provided in FY 2010. The funds would be used to complete environmental studies for solar energy projects in Nevada and potential wind energy zones in Oregon and Nevada. In the conventional energy program, the BLM will focus on implementing oil and gas leasing reforms put forward by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar while placing continued emphasis on oil and gas inspections, environmental enforcement, and production monitoring activities.  The budget includes a $2.0 million increase in BLM’s Soil, Water, and Air Management program for air quality monitoring that will be targeted to areas with current or anticipated intensive oil and gas development to help BLM ensure that the energy development complies with environmental requirements and minimizes or addresses potential litigation issues.
The Budget maintains BLM’s oil and gas management program capacity at current levels, with a $3.0 million decrease to reflect the completion of specific Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) studies. In addition, the Budget proposes new fees – estimated to generated $10 million annually – to help offset the cost of BLM’s oil and gas inspection and enforcement activities.

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The Nature Conservancy Urges Passage of Omnibus Public Lands Management Act

The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act (S.22) is the most comprehensive public lands bill the Congress has considered in recent years.

The Public Lands Management Act is a significant step forward in ensuring the long-term health and sustainable use of our natural areas

These measures have strong local support and little or no opposition; it is my hope that the Act will pass unchanged so that it can be signed into law by President Obama.

Many of the management strategies in the Act will help our lands and waters become more resilient to climate change

Such adaptation programs are essential to safeguard both nature and people. The Nature Conservancy is pleased to see this reflected in the legislation.

Arlington, Virginia (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 10, 2009 — While the nation’s attention is focused on the movement of the economic stimulus plan, another important piece of legislation is poised to become law. The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act (S.22) is the most comprehensive public lands bill the Congress has considered in recent years. The bi-partisan Act addresses national, regional and local needs for the conservation of our forests, rivers, coastal and marine resources. Among the major national provisions of the Act are: Read the rest of this entry →