The mission of the United States Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to the nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. The department was responsible for the construction of the national capital's water system, the colonization of freed slaves in Haiti, exploration of western wilderness, oversight of the District of Columbia jail, regulation of territorial governments, management of hospitals and universities, management of public parks and the basic responsibilities for Indians, public lands, patents and pensions. Department of the Interior agencies are the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Minerals Management Service, National Park Service, Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey. U.S. Department of the Interior is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an office in Colorado, Arizona, Mississippi and North Carolina.
The Epidemiology Section at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is the branch of public health that works to understand the causes and effects of disease in communities. The unit offers information for the prevention and control of diseases and injuries. It also provides consultation assistance with community health problems. The Epidemiology Section identifies environmental and occupational threats to health from asbestos, lead, chemicals, and harmful algal blooms and mold. The unit also offers education on disease outbreaks and prevention. It provides medical evaluation services for workers in hazardous trades. The unit provides outpatient care and support services related to sexually transmitted diseases. The Epidemiology Section maintains an office in Raleigh, N.C.
The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office conducts state and federal preservation programs and is a part of the Office of Archives and History and the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. It assists citizens, private institutions, local governments, and agencies of state and federal government in the identification, evaluation, protection and enhancement of properties significant in history and archaeology. The department provides technical assistance to owners in the restoration of historic properties. It also offers historic preservation education, including publication of annual preservation plan updates. In addition, the department provides grant assistance for historic preservation projects. The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office is located in Raleigh, N.C.
