BP oil spill fund: $103M to projects in 3 Gulf states
Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi are receiving more than $103 million in BP oil spill settlement money for new and continued coastal projects. “These projects, combined with existing investments, continue to advance our goal of protecting and restoring species and habitats impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, said Thursday. The 11 new projects and two extensions from the foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund bring its total allocations across the five Gulf states to $1.6 billion, a news release said. Alabama is getting more than $43 million for four new projects, the foundation said. Florida is getting nearly $33 million for one new project. The remaining $27 million will support six new projects and continue two others in Mississippi. The Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund received $2.5 billion in settlement money from criminal charges against BP and its codefendants. The fund is for work to fix damage and reduce risks of future damage to natural resources affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. State and national agencies work to identify potential projects to ensure coordination with activities under two other programs that received money from spill settlements or fines. Three of the new projects in Alabama are designed to stabilize eroding shorelines and restore coastal marsh in Mobile County and on the north side of Dauphin Island. Previous grants covered engineering, design, and permitting for those projects. The fourth grant will pay for engineering and design of beach and dune restoration on Dauphin Island’s west end. Florida plans to use its award to acquire and manage about 32,000 acres (13,000 hectares) of wetland and floodplain habitat in the Apalachicola watershed. That’s aimed at ensuring sufficient freshwater and nutrient flow to Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to support oysters and marine fishes. Mississippi’s new projects will expand and plan for future enhancements of artificial reefs across the Mississippi Sound and restore and protect vulnerable coastal habitats along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “The health of our natural resources is intertwined with the strength of the economy of south Mississippi,” said Chris Wells, head of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. “These projects, in addition to the others announced for this year, will continue the essential work necessary to enhance the coastal habitat so vital for marine life.” Mississippi has received about $192 million from the fund. Alabama has received about $300 million; Florida, about $290 million; Louisiana, $603 million; and Texas, $203 million. About $940 million remains to be allocated. The plea agreements for BP and other defendants set out the percentage of the total for projects in each state. Texas has reached its limit. Louisiana, which suffered the most damage, will ultimately get nearly $1.3 billion for barrier island and river diversion projects, and Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi will get $356 million each. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Jim Zeigler pounces on Robert Bentley’s move to renovate “eyesore” Gulf Shores mansion
State Auditor Jim Zeigler had harsh words for Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday, saying the administration’s decision to spend commit $1.5 million to fix up the governor’s official residence in Gulf Shores was motivated by Bentley’s recent loss of a personal house there in his recent divorce. Zeigler called Bentley derelict in his inaction to renovate the “dilipidated” 7,500-square-foot mansion until now. “The governor now has a personal need for a Gulf place, so only now is he restoring the governor’s mansion at the gulf,” said Zeigler in a prepared statement. “This is another example of poor stewardship of the state’s resources,” Zeigler said Monday. “It took a personal benefit to correct this dereliction.” Zeigler, who holds a unique ombudsmanlike statewide elected position in Montgomery, pulled no punches in assailing the governor. The two have had cross words more than once in the past over the budget, state parks, and the removal of official portraits of former Govs. George and Lurleen Wallace from the Capitol rotunda. “Neighboring home owners have been complaining about the deserted governor’s gulf mansion for years,” Zeigler said. “Nothing has been done, and the deterioration continued. The original donor of the property sued to get it back, but lost. Nothing got the governor to rehabilitate this property but losing his own personal Gulf house in the divorce. This is the way things go in the Bentley administration.” Zeigler also went after Bentley on the timing and manner of the decision to invest in renovations for the stately home on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, saying the lack of transparency in that process mirrored other moves by the administration. Bentley will “siphon” $1.5 million to $1.8 million from the BP settlement to pay for the Gulf mansion renovation, which started with no announcement to the media or public, according to Zeigler. “Like too many things, this was done in the darkness of night and only confirmed after it was a done deal,” Zeigler said. The Gulf Shores renovation project, first announced in November, is slated to be completed by May. The repair work includes installing a new roof and replacing plumbing, electrical, and heating and air conditioning systems. Weather-battered exterior wood and stucco will be fixed, and much of the interior will be redone. See below for a photo of the abandoned mansion publicized by Zeigler.
