BIA, BLM, USFS, SCj, UPS?

What do these letters stand for, or are they just alphabet soup?  Usually they represent a government agency,  These agencies are funded  with tax dollars paid by U.S. citizens.  Because of this, their records should be available to those same citizens for research purposes.  If you know someone who works at the agency, it will help you in getting the information, as most workers have busy schedules. Most National and state agencies also have web sites where you can find information.  In addition, those sites have e-mail addresses where specific questions can be asked.
     What agencies are located in your home town?   What kind of information do you think each of these agencies would have?

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State of Utah
Government Agencies

    State agencies are a  good source of information of selected studies.  These organizations will support libraries and databases on a variety of subjects that would be beneficial to the researcher.  Listed below are a few government agencies for the State of Utah.

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Utah Division of Parks and Recreation
    The Utah Department of Natural resources is responsible for parks and recreation within the state of Utah. There are 45 parks in the state, each with its own particular history and ecosystem.

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Utah Department of Human Services
    Most communities in the state have a human services office. Social workers are trained to provide information and help in a number of areas. These are some of the services they provide:

• Adoption
• Child and adult abuse
• Aging
• Alimony
• Couseling
• Disabilities
• Domestic Violence
• Foster care
• Medicare
• Mental Health
• Out of control teens
• Public assistance
• Tobacco/drug abuse
• Paternity
• Youth corrections
• Welfare

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Federal Government Agencies

The federal is a rich source for information.  The following is an example of some of the federal government agencies that are in San Juan County.


Bureau of Land Management
    The BLM is responsible for managing federal lands, especially in the West.  In Utah a high percentage of land is owned and run by the BLM, totalling 22,465,907 acres.   In San Juan County 54% of the land is owned by the BLM. Beaver county has the largest amount of BLM land, with 75.44%.   Possible information these offices may have:

• BLM in Utah manages resources on public lands including

 recreation, fire, coal, oil, gas, wilderness, National Monuments
• Land-use planning, land exchanges, archaeological and historical sites, threats
• Land use records
• Grazing permits and history
• Photographs of sites
• Records of BLM decisions, personnel, expenses



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U.S.D.A.  Forest Service
    The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for forests in the state.  They manage mining, logging, and grazing permits.  Their national web site has a library with an on-line search engine.

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U.S. Park Service
     In addition to managing thousands of parks throughout the United States, this ageincy also helps to preserve and document: Nature,  culture, history, outdoors, preservation, black history, tourism, resources, trails, hiking, maps

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Bureau of Indian Affairs
    Responsible for improving the lives and trust assets of American Indians, IndianTribes, and Alaska natives through services and relationships. The Bureau of Indian Affairs' mission is to
enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets Native People.

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Bureau of Reclamation
    Responsible for water and energy conservation and enviromental impact.  This site focuses on Glen Canyon dam and canyon, Animas-LaPlata water project, Flaming Gorge, Navajo Dam and reservoir.

 State History Fair
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Last updated January 2001