Speak Up! BP Oil Spill Fines Must be Used to Restore the Gulf

417865_466289743455518_1577957713_nThree years after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and sent more than 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the region’s wildlife and wetlands are still suffering.

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released a draft plan for restoring the Gulf in the wake of the BP oil disaster. While there is much to like in the recent draft, the Restoration Council is also under enormous outside pressure to approve development projects that in some cases can actually cause further harm.

Speak Up and Submit Comments!

Now is the public’s opportunity to have its voice heard and let the Council know that we want BP’s oil spill fines to be used solely on projects that help restore the Gulf. There is a formal public comment period for the Draft Plan that ends July 8, 2013. Simply click here and submit a comment to the Council.

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Let the Council know that:

  • We appreciate that the Ecosystem Restoration Council’s Draft Initial Plan further elaborates on the requirements of the RESTORE Act that the Council-selected Restoration Allocation (30%) will be dedicated solely to ecosystem restoration projects. The Council should maintain an environmental restoration focus.
  • The Impact-Based State allocations, 30% of the RESTORE Act dollars, should not fund projects that will do harm to the environment. The Final Plan should require that provides a net environmental gain.
  • The Draft Plan indicates the Council will seek further public comment on a project list. The Final Plan must ensure that the public is granted the opportunity to comment and participate in all phases of plan and project development. It’s important for stakeholders to provide input on the projects that will inevitably affect people in the Gulf and throughout the nation.
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Have your voice heard! Submit comments and let the Council know you want the Gulf ecosystems restored. Our livelihoods depend on it. (Photo credit: Flickr / Infrogmation)

Click here to learn more about the RESTORE Act and how it can help the Gulf of Mexico.