The 130 page report is available at
http://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/gulf-reconstruction-sep-2010.pdf

The section on ecosystem restoration is found on pp. 26-50.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson did a conference call briefing on the report. Here are the highlights:

· The report recommends Congress dedicate a “significant amount” of the Clean Water Act penalties that will be paid by BP and others to the Gulf region. Normally, these penalties would be paid into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for use in future disasters.

· The report recommends the establishment of a Gulf Coast Recovery Council to administer the restoration funds. The Council would have a federal and state chair and consist of federal, state, tribal, and local representatives. The Council would coordinate its activities with the Natural Resources Damage Trustee Council.

· The report recommends dedicating a portion of the Clean Water Act penalties directly to the states.

· The President is signing an Executive Order establishing a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, chaired by Jackson. The Task Force will have federal agency representatives and a representative from each Gulf Coast state. If Congress establishes a Gulf Coast Recovery Council, the Task Force will be replaced by the Council.

· The focus of Gulf Coast recovery will be on long-term ecosystem restoration, health and human services recovery, economic recovery, and nonprofit sector recovery (because nonprofits have been hard hit by the multiple disasters in the Gulf).

· The report recommends removing the liability cap for offshore oil drilling damages.
· The report calls for the development of a Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy by the Task Force within one year.

Special thanks to Richard Charter