To: Robert Dudley, CEO, Governor Bobby Jindal, Governor Robert Bentley, Governor Phil Bryant, Governor Rick Scott, Iris Cross, General Manager, External Relations, Louisiana Government & Public Affairs BP America, Inc, Lamar McKay, Chairman...
Tell BP to move forward with restoration of the Gulf Coast!
Dear BP:
It has been 16 months since you announced the agreement to spend $1 billion on early restoration projects, and so far only about $60 million has been allocated. It is unacceptable for this process to be happening so slowly, especially when we see more evidence each day of the devastating impacts that your oil has had on our coastal and marine resources. The recent reemergence of your oil from Hurricane Isaac’s path through the Gulf highlights the urgent need to move forward with restoration now. Stop playing hardball and allow the trustees to move forward with restoration.
Furthermore, I am concerned that the project selection is occurring in a black box, with little opportunity for public input. In November 2011, groups in the Gulf Future Coalition released Sunshine on the Gulf: The Case for Transparency in Restoration Project Selection, a report that outlines the need for formal public participation in restoration decision-making and puts forth a framework for evaluating the many early restoration project proposals. You and the Trustees should be using this report as a primer to determine which projects get funded, ensuring that those projects are repairing the full extent of your disaster’s damage and restoring the Gulf’s vibrant ecosystems.
I strongly urge you to move forward with the next allocation of the $1 billion in restoration funds and commit to paying every penny you owe to coastal communities to repair the damage you caused to the Gulf Coast.
Sincerely,
It has been 16 months since you announced the agreement to spend $1 billion on early restoration projects, and so far only about $60 million has been allocated. It is unacceptable for this process to be happening so slowly, especially when we see more evidence each day of the devastating impacts that your oil has had on our coastal and marine resources. The recent reemergence of your oil from Hurricane Isaac’s path through the Gulf highlights the urgent need to move forward with restoration now. Stop playing hardball and allow the trustees to move forward with restoration.
Furthermore, I am concerned that the project selection is occurring in a black box, with little opportunity for public input. In November 2011, groups in the Gulf Future Coalition released Sunshine on the Gulf: The Case for Transparency in Restoration Project Selection, a report that outlines the need for formal public participation in restoration decision-making and puts forth a framework for evaluating the many early restoration project proposals. You and the Trustees should be using this report as a primer to determine which projects get funded, ensuring that those projects are repairing the full extent of your disaster’s damage and restoring the Gulf’s vibrant ecosystems.
I strongly urge you to move forward with the next allocation of the $1 billion in restoration funds and commit to paying every penny you owe to coastal communities to repair the damage you caused to the Gulf Coast.
Sincerely,
Why is this important?
The Gulf Coast didn’t need another reminder of the critical need for coastal restoration as Hurricane Isaac rolled through–but the emergence of BP oil along our coastlines provided that reminder. It’s been 16 months since the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees and BP announced an agreement to provide $1 billion towards early restoration projects, yet the trustees have only allocated $60 million to projects. We’d like to know–what is taking so long?
Keep BP accountable–tell them to move forward with restoration of our coast!
Currently, the project selection has been occurring in a black box with little opportunity for public input. In November 2011, the Gulf Future Coalition released Sunshine on the Gulf, a report that outlines the need for transparency and public participation in the restoration project selection process, as well as putting forth a framework for evaluating many of the proposed early restoration projects.
This report has been lost on BP as they continue to drag their heels, and stall the path to the restoration of our coast. Send a message to BP that we need transparency and public input to ensure the full repair of the damage to our coast.
Keep BP accountable–tell them to move forward with restoration of our coast!
Currently, the project selection has been occurring in a black box with little opportunity for public input. In November 2011, the Gulf Future Coalition released Sunshine on the Gulf, a report that outlines the need for transparency and public participation in the restoration project selection process, as well as putting forth a framework for evaluating many of the proposed early restoration projects.
This report has been lost on BP as they continue to drag their heels, and stall the path to the restoration of our coast. Send a message to BP that we need transparency and public input to ensure the full repair of the damage to our coast.