Last Weds., the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council announced dates for upcoming public engagement sessions that will allow input into its Comprehensive Plan for Gulf Coast Restoration.
Public engagement sessions will be held in Miss. Feb. 19, in La. Feb. 19, 20 and 21, and in Fla. Feb. 28.
Additional dates and locations will be posted on the Council’s website as they become available. The Council, which was established by the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism, Opportunities Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), will help restore the ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast by developing and overseeing a plan and carrying out other duties.
In Jan., they released The Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast, which describes how the Council aims to:
"collaboratively develop an initial Comprehensive Plan. It sets out an integrated approach to Gulf restoration, recognizing that ecosystem restoration is inextricably linked to economic growth and development. The Council is in an early stage of plan development and intends to release a draft plan for public comment in Spring 2013.
Congress passed the bipartisan RESTORE Act, which dedicates 80 percent of any civil and administrative penalties paid under the Clean Water Act by responsible parties in connection with the BP oil spill to the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. Money is funneled into ecosystem restoration, economic recovery, and tourism promotion in the Gulf Coast region.
Meetings will allow the public to provide feedback on the Council’s restoration planning efforts. Following are details on the upcoming meetings:
Tuesday, February 19
Louisiana – 5:00 PM CST
Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., Room 3, Houma, LA
Mississippi – 5:00 PM CST
Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS
Wednesday, February 20
Louisiana – 5:00 PM CST
University of New Orleans, Homer Hitt Alumni Center Ballroom, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA
Thursday, February 21
Louisiana – 5:00 PM CST
Lack Charles Civic Center, Jean Lafitte Room, 900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA
Thursday, February 28
Florida – 6:00 PM EST
Student Union East Conference Center, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. U.S. 98, Panama City Beach, FL
To get more details about the meetings, please click here.
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