The purpose of this Decree is guarantee to the local branches of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation the status of local branches of a Federal Department (Federal Authority). Federal Budget of the Russian Federation of 2000 provides for the setting up of a special fund destined to the local branches of the Ministry. This fund is established by the reshaping of the items of the Budget such as "Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Hydrometeorology, Mapping, geolo