The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released its initial list of restoration projects to be included on its “Final Priorities List.” As stated at the Council web site, “Using funds from the settlement with Transocean Deepwater Inc., the Council is seeking to provide near-term, on-the-ground ecosystem benefits, while also conducting planning activities designed to build Read More
Tag: RESTORE Act
Texas receives Funding for Centers of Excellence; Gulf Restoration Public Participation Bulletin Board; HRI Releases GecoView
A press release issued on June 30, 2015 announced “…Texas is the first state in the nation to receive money from the RESTORE Trust Fund through a federal award to fund two Centers of Excellence. The two centers, Texas OneGulf at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and the Subsea Systems Institute at the University of Houston, Read More
AGCRC Soliciting Proposal for Center of Excellence; FL Center of Excellence’s Grant Proposals Due 5/20/15
The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council released solicitation for proposal for the RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Research Grant Program on May 13. Non-governmental entities and consortia, including public and private institutes of higher learning in the Gulf Coast Region can submit proposals to serve as Alabama’s Center of Excellence. Proposals are due June 30, Read More
Final Version of NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program’s Science Plan Released
From their announcement, “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the final version of the science plan for the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program. The plan establishes ten long-term research priorities which will guide how the program invests its funds and explains how prior needs assessments for the Gulf of Mexico region and Read More
External Science Reviews of Gulf Restoration Council’s Proposals Available for Viewing
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council is currently evaluating submissions for potential funding under the Council-Selected Restoration Component. As part of this process, each submission was evaluated with respect to Budget, Science, Environmental Compliance, and consistency with the RESTORE Act and the Council’s Initial Comprehensive Plan. Context reports, including that of the external science review Read More
Judge Rejects BP Attempt to Lower Fines for 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
On Thursday, 2/19, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier declared that BP should face paying up to $4,300 in fines for each barrel of oil spilled during the Macando well blowout that spilled oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days in 2010. This is the result of an attempt by BP to lower the Read More
ELI Unveils New Gulf of Mexico Restoration Projects Map
Environmental Law Institute (ELI) has created a new online Restoration Projects Map that complements their Restoration Projects Database. These track where Deepwater Horizon restoration and recovery are taking place. According to ELI, “Both the database and the map aim to support transparency and public engagement by tracking where restoration funds are being spent, and by Read More
FIO Announces Its First Request for Proposals for the Florida Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program
Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) announces release of its first Request for Proposals for the Florida Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program– http://www.fio.usf.edu/research/restore-act. Read More
Texas Centers of Excellence Designated
On Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Commissioner Toby Baker announced the selection of two consortia, one led by the University of Houston and the other led by Texas A&M University –Corpus Christi, to establish Centers of Excellence. Centers of Excellence are being created in the five Gulf States affected by the Read More
3.19 Million Barrels Spilled, BP Faces $13.7 Billion in Fines for Deepwater Horizon Disaster
In an official ruling on Thursday, January 15, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier determined 3.19 million barrels of oil were spilled in the Gulf of Mexico from the Macondo well following the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion on April 20, 2010. Under the Clean Water Act, oil spill violators face fines ranging from $1,000 to Read More