Restoring The Gulf

January 26, 2012

Texas Gulf Coast residents will get a chance to chime in tonight on gulf restoration projects after the BP oil spill. NOAA is overseeing the restoration efforts, including how an initial payment of $1 billion will be spent.

Loading the player ...

Phase One of the early restoration includes projects in the four most oiled states — Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

BP will spend $57 million out of the $ billion pot on these first projects.

Texas will be in Phase Two.

Don Pitts, with Texas Parks and Wildlife, is directing the restoration efforts here. He says Phase Two will likely get underway this summer, which is why they're getting input from the public now on what types of projects should get priority.

"We have over 150 projects that were proposed for Texas from the public and from our natural resource agencies that we're evaluating and moving forward now."

Those projects include everything from restoring habitat to boat ramp improvement, recreation and access, fishing and cleaning the 27 miles of Texas beaches where oil washed up.

"Tonight's an opportunity for the public to come out and listen to a presentation on the projects. We're at the Sea Aggie Center at Texas A&M University in Galveston. The meeting starts at 6 o'clock this evening. Also, people can access the plan at is www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov where they can access the plan as well as provide comments on it."

The public comment period will start at 7pm.

Pitts says experts will be on hand to answer questions and take suggestions.

Meeting info:

6:00 pm Open House
7:00 pm Meeting/presentation/comment
Texas A&M University Galveston
Ocean and Coastal Studies Building Galveston, TX 77551