The federal council appointed to oversee the restoration of states affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill approved $302 million dollars for restoration projects Wednesday.
Environmental Protection Agency Associate Deputy Administrator Doug Benevento said 73 million of those dollars have been allocated for projects along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“This funding will continue the work of the Trump administration and partnership with both the DeSantis administration and the Scott administration to restore the Gulf Coast and put settlement money from the Deepwater Horizon spill to work,” Benevento said.
Benevento said approved projects include vulnerability assessments for the Florida Gulf Coast shoreline, the conservation of 10,000 to 20,000 acres of land and improving water quality throughout the state.
Benevento said the projects will be available for public comment for 50 days starting Nov. 16.
“After a review of comments and response to comments, the Council will take final action most likely next spring,” Benevento said.
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council was created in 2012 as part of the RESTORE Act signed by then-President Obama. Members include the governors of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Secretaries from federal agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency are also members.
