Coalition groups react to Transocean settlement
Yesterday our coalition members, along with Greater New Orleans Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Oxfam America and Ocean Conservancy, released a joint statement on the Department of Justice’s settlement with Transocean for its role in the 2010 gulf oil disaster.
At the same time, our Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign organizations also released their individual takes on this landmark event.
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana:
“This is a historic agreement because the $1 billion in civil fines under the Clean Water Act will be affected by the RESTORE Act. This means $800 million in badly needed relief funds will make its way to Louisiana and its neighboring Gulf states, who were profoundly affected by the massive environmental disaster.” (Read more)
Environmental Defense Fund
“We will not know the full extent of environmental damages in the Gulf for years to come, but we do know that devastating effects of the oil spill continue to unfold nearly 1,000 days later,” said Paul Harrison, Senior Director of EDF’s Water Program. “It is crucial that all of the responsible parties, particularly BP, be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” (Read more)
National Audubon Society
“Critical restoration dollars are finally starting to flow to the broken Gulf Coast. But the truly big move is the next one. The DOJ is representing all of us in the civil case against BP. That’s where fairness will be found – or lost,” said Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold. (Read more)
National Wildlife Federation
“This is an important step to get money flowing into the Gulf of Mexico,” said John Kostyack, vice president for wildlife conservation at the National Wildlife Federation. “Environmental restoration is critical to the well-being of the communities and ecosystems of the Gulf. In passing the bipartisan RESTORE Act, Congress recognized that a healthy ecosystem supports a healthy economy, both regionally and nationally. These are the first funds that will be directed under that historic statute, potentially beginning the largest ecosystem restoration project in U.S. history.” (Read more)