Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to Help Rebuild the Gulf Coasts'
Ecosystems and Economies in the Wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Council Announces its First Public Meeting
November 30, 2012 Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ, 601-961-5277
WASHINGTON — The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the Council)
announced today that it will hold its first public meeting on December 11,
2012 in Mobile, Alabama. The Council, which was established by the
Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism, Opportunities Revived
Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), will develop
and oversee implementation of a comprehensive plan to help restore the
ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast region in the wake of the Deepwater
Horizooil spill.
The oil spill caused extensive damage to the Gulf Coast's natural
resources, devastating the economies and communities that rely on it. In an
effort to help the region rebuild, Congress passed the bipartisan RESTORE
Act, which dedicates 80 percent of Clean Water Act administrative and civil
penalties paid by responsible parties after the date of enactment of this
Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill to the
Gulf Region for ecological and economic recovery efforts. This law will
likely generate investments in economic development, tourism promotion, and
science-based natural resource restoration in the states hit hardest by the
spill -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The Council will work with the State and local communities to identify
projects and programs that will restore the region's natural resources and
help benefit local businesses, boost their economies, and create jobs. In
order to ensure robust public input throughout the entire process, the
Council will hold several public meetings and listening sessions in each of
the Gulf States in the coming months.
The first meeting will introduce the Council to the public. It will also
give the public the opportunity to provide feedback on the Council's
restoration planning efforts. This meeting will be held on December 11,
2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel,
64 South Waters Street, Mobile, AL, 36602. There will also be an Open House
from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, during which the public
can discuss these issues with participating state and federal
representatives.
To preregister for the Council meeting, visit:
events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hghxkyjab&oeidk=a07e6po9rtw09ef560b
.
Gulf Restoration Council
The RESTORE Act established a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the
Council), which is comprised of governors from the five affected Gulf
States', the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of Interior, Commerce,
Agriculture, and Homeland Security as well as the Secretary of the Army and
the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Gulf
States selected and President Obama appointed the Secretary of Commerce as
the Council's Chair.
RESTORE Act
The RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of all administrative and civil
penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon spill to a Gulf Coast
Restoration Trust Fund and outlines a structure by which the funds can be
utilized to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems,
fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and
economy of the Gulf Coast region. The RESTORE Act sets forth the following
framework for allocation of the Trust Fund:
· 35 percent of the money divided equally between the five Gulf States
for ecological and economic restoration efforts in the region;
· 30 percent of the money through the Council to implement a
comprehensive plan for ecosystem and economic recovery of the Gulf
Coast;
· 30 percent of the money for States' plans to address based on impacts
from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill;
· 2.5 percent of the money to create the Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology Program
within the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); and
· 2.5 percent of the money to the Centers of Excellence Research
grants, which will each focus on science, technology, and monitoring
related to Gulf restoration.
# # #
Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us
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