Posted by National Wildlife Federation

Vanishing Paradise Calls List ‘Critical Step Forward for the Gulf’; Landmark Opportunity to Restore Habitat with BP Settlement

Today, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration (RESTORE) Council released its Funded Priorities List (FPL) – a compilation of restoration projects the Council intends to prioritize for funding following the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. These projects will be funded by a portion of RESTORE Act dollars designated for ecosystem restoration from the Transocean Clean Water Act settlement. The announced list is now open for a public comment period, with comments due September 28, 2015. The Council will also hold public meetings on the FPL in each of the Gulf states.

Steve Bender, director of Vanishing Paradise – a program of National Wildlife Federation uniting sportsmen and women from across the country on the important issue of Gulf restoration – released the following statement in response to today’s announcement:

“We are encouraged to see this first Funded Priorities List moving forward into the public comment period, and look forward to engaging on the details of the list. We thank the RESTORE Council and staff for their efforts to draft this list, which is a critical step forward for the Gulf. We are committed to seeing strong projects progress to actual construction and implementation, including restoration of essential fish and wildlife habitat that makes the Gulf an environmental and economic driver for the entire country.

“A final BP settlement is on the horizon, presenting the RESTORE Council and the Gulf states with a landmark opportunity to plan for and achieve meaningful restoration and lasting resilience for the wildlife habitat of the Gulf. We look forward to working with the Council on the next, more comprehensive FPL process.”