Push to Restore the Gulf Coast

 Cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico is going to take a lot of work.  Some call new cleanup work as “early restoration projects.”  It’s hard to believe that we are still in the early stages of cleanup from this disaster.  Recruiters may want to be privy to the number of jobs that must accompany the cleanup.

The Natural Resource Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Trustees), BP has agreed to provide $1 billion to the Gulf of Mexico to address injuries to natural resources caused by the spill.  The Trustees involved are: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

BP is required to fund the complete restoration of injured public resources, including the loss of use of those resources by the people living, working and visiting the area.  How can you fully restore what suffered such a surge of pollution?  Rebuilding of coastal marshes, replenishment of damaged beaches, conservation of sensitive areas for ocean habitat for injured wildlife, and restoration of barrier islands and wetlands that provide natural protection from storms are all part of the work that must be done.

“This milestone agreement will allow us to jump-start restoration projects that will bring Gulf Coast marshes, wetlands, and wildlife habitat back to health after the damage they suffered as a result of the Deepwater Horizon spill,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “This agreement accelerates our work on Gulf Coast restoration and in no way limits the ability of all the Natural Resource Trustees from seeking full damages from those who are responsible as the NRDA process moves forward.”