DEP AND FWC LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE RESTORATION FOR FLORIDA’S GULF COAST

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PRESS RELEASE: July 2, 2015

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

 

DEP AND FWC LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE RESTORATION FOR FLORIDA’S GULF COAST 

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are the lead state agencies working towards restoring the environment and recreational opportunities that were damaged in the state of Florida due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As a part of the agreement in principle announced today, BP will pay $18.732 billion which is broken down between Clean Water Act penalties, natural resource damage claims, and economic claims across the Gulf States. The state of Florida will receive at least a total of $3.25 billion.

“This agreement in principle will help Florida’s communities to recover from the economic and environmental damages suffered after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. We look forward to working with Governor Scott, Attorney General Bondi, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and local communities to continue to implement environmental and recreational restoration projects and ensure that our Gulf coast remains that best place to live, work and visit.”

DEP Secretary Jon Steverson

“We are pleased with this progress toward ultimate resolution with BP. The Commission looks forward to the day the settlement funds can be put into restoring key habitats for fish and wildlife and help support the economies of coastal communities that are so closely tied to these resources.”

Brian Yablonski, Chairman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission