Legal Definitions - Interior Department

The Interior Department, also known as the Department of the Interior, is a part of the federal government that manages public lands and minerals, national parks, wildlife refuges, and water resources in the western United States. It also has responsibilities for Indian tribes and migratory wildlife conservation, historical preservation, endangered species, surface-mined-lands preservation and restoration, mapping, and geological, hydrological, and biological science.

The Interior Department was created in 1849 and reorganized in 1950. It is headed by the Secretary of the Interior and includes several agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

For example, the Interior Department manages national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite, which are protected areas for wildlife and natural resources. The department also works with Indian tribes to uphold federal trust responsibilities and protect their rights. Additionally, the department is responsible for preserving and restoring lands that have been impacted by mining activities.