Additional $280M issued in BP oil spill restoration grants
Gulf states are getting an additional $280 million in restoration grants from the BP oil spill of 2010. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation says Monday that Louisiana is getting $161 million to restore three barrier islands. Florida is receiving $53 million, including $16 million to protect coastal forest and wetlands along the Lower Suwanee River and Big Bend coast. Nearly $49 million will go to Alabama, including $22.5 million for artificial reefs. Texas will get $19 million, including $6 million to protect 575 acres of coastal habitat. The foundation is getting $2.5 billion over five years for restoration projects. The money’s coming from criminal damages paid by BP PLC and drilling company Transocean Deepwater Inc. Monday’s grants bring the total so far to $1.3 billion. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
