Taskforce calls for using BP fees to rebuild Gulf of Mexico ecosystems

Limit nutrient flows to Gulf

Jay Blazek Crossley, Dec 06, 11.

The multi-state / federal task task force, Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, has released its final report “Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Restoration Strategy,” (pdf), calling for spending most of the funds collected in fees from the BP oil spill to be spent on restoring the ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico and for coordinated action on issues, such as limiting excess nutrient flow from farm states into the Gulf, according to the New York Times.

The study establishes a broad set of goals that now must be met by effective implementation, according to the Houston Chronicle:

“The goals are the right goals,” said Chris Dorsett, the Austin-based director of the Gulf program for the Ocean Conservancy. “The critical thing now is the implementation phase.”

This process brought together 5 states and various federal agencies that have not always seen eye to eye in the past, according to Guidry News:

“President Obama called for a Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration strategy that was designed in partnership with the people of the Gulf to support the vibrant and diverse ecosystems, economies, communities and cultures of the region,” said Nancy Sutley, chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.  “The release of the final strategy represents the incredible collaboration and dedication of the States, the local communities, the Federal Agencies, the Tribes and the people of the Gulf to bringing the Gulf Coast back stronger than ever before.”

“The strategy that is being released today defines a way forward to restore the Gulf ecosystem and its people to a healthy state, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Jane Lubchenco.  “The development of this strategy was a strong partnership across the states and between the states and federal agencies.”

“I think it is the first time that the five Gulf states have ever agreed on anything,” said Task Force Co-Chair Garret Graves, echoing Lubchenco’s statement.

“All too often, in my experience, whenever you hear the phrase, ‘I’m from the federal government and I’m here to help’, you at least start out with suspicion; sometimes that transitions into derision; and none of that is true here,” said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.  “I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Video produced by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which notes that this plan is “from the people of the Gulf and for the people of the Gulf”:

More from Megaregion

Comments