Gulf Restoration Groups Praise Historic Settlement for Oil Spill

(WASHINGTON, DC) Gulf restoration and economic development groups lauded the announcement today from the Department of Justice that it has reached an historic settlement with Transocean for its role in the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Today’s $1.4 billion settlement will be paid under the Clean Water Act for civil and criminal penalties. A significant portion of those funds will be used to restore the Gulf, as directed by the RESTORE Act.   

The groups issued the following statement:

“This is a great day for the Gulf environment and the communities that rely on a healthy ecosystem for their livelihoods,” said Environmental Defense Fund, Greater New Orleans Inc., National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Oxfam America and Ocean Conservancy. “We thank the Department of Justice for their leadership in holding Transocean accountable and look forward to full resolution of the case with other responsible parties, which will allow restoration efforts in the Gulf to get fully underway.”

“With this settlement, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council finally has some funding to begin implementing a comprehensive plan for ecosystem restoration that will rebuild the environment of the Gulf and the communities that rely upon it.”

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund

Media Contact

Heather Layman
The Nature Conservancy
703.841.3929
Shelley Sparks
Ocean Conservancy
504.616.9150
Laura Rusu
Oxfam America
202.496.1169
Jaclyn McDougal
National Wildlife Federation
678.436.5072
Matt Wolfe
Greater New Orleans Inc.
504.527.6936
David Ringer
National Audubon Society
212.979.3062
Elizabeth Skree
Environmental Defense Fund
202.553.2543