The federal government on Friday announced 44 projects totaling $627 million to restore the Gulf of Mexico following damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident that caused the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
The projects in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are being paid for through a $1 billion fund BP established in 2011 to repair the Gulf states’ shorelines.
“Preserving, protecting, and restoring natural resources is an integral part of our efforts to foster resilience in communities nationwide, including those affected by the Deep Water Horizon oil spill,” said Kathryn D. Sullivan, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator. “These projects reflect an earnest commitment to the Gulf and will enhance the region’s economic, social, and ecological resilience in the future.”
The Deepwater Horizon incident spewed more than 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf. Eleven workers died when the rig exploded.
A federal court last month found BP was “grossly negligent” in the 2010 spill, slapping the company with up to $18 billion in pollution fines. BP has asked for a retrial on the pollution charges.
BP had earlier been hit with $4 billion in criminal fines and says its total bill for litigation and other costs has hit $42 billion.
