Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Headline: Creates Gulf Restoration Council, Adds Environmental and Agricultural Trustees
What it does: Agencies must transfer Gulf restoration planning to the Gulf Restoration Council, coordinate with trustees, and include the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture as additional trustees.
- Terminates the existing Gulf Coast Task Force after the new council begins work.
- Creates a Trust Fund from Deepwater Horizon penalties to fund Gulf restoration projects.
- Adds the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture as damage assessment trustees.
Summary
This order shifts federal Gulf restoration leadership to a new Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council and affirms the RESTORE Act funding mechanism to pay for recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It ends the prior Task Force once the new council begins and requires federal members to work closely to avoid duplication and align plans.
The order also designates the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture as additional trustees for damage assessment and directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update response plans. The changes aim to improve planning, coordination, and use of restoration funds.
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