Public comments sought on Gulf Restoration plan
On Friday, December 6, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and spill trustees released a draft plan for spending $627 million on 44 restoration projects across Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas.
The 44 projects are part of the agreement with BP to provide $1 billion for Gulf Coast restoration prior to completion of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Ecological projects — such as restoration of marshes, barrier islands, dunes, shorelines and oyster beds &mash; comprise about $397 million, or 63 percent of the total. Recreational use projects make up the remaining $230 million.
Public comments may be submitted on the plan between now and February 4, 2014. To view the complete plan and submit comments, visit the link below.