On Wednesday, December 9 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) will meet to vote on approval of the Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL) and the Spill Impact Component Rule (Rule), pursuant to the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act).  An open house will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. CT.  The public is invited to attend the open house and public meeting.  The meeting will take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, 2350 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, Mississippi, 39531.   

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Chair of the Council, will preside over the meeting, while Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant will serve as the meeting host.  In addition, other Council member representatives from the Gulf States and federal agencies will also participate.

Using funds from the settlement with Transocean Deepwater Inc. for initial investments, the Council is seeking to address critical needs of 10 key watersheds across the Gulf to help restore the region’s ecosystem and strengthen economic resilience.  Projects and programs in the FPL  will help to revitalize the region through skills training for local communities, improvements in water quality, and habitat restoration critical to juvenile fish and endangered birds and sea turtles. 

Meeting materials, including the meeting agenda, the FPL, the Rule and the “Response to Public Comments” documents will be available beginning December 1 on the Council’s website. 

Advance registration for the meeting is not required, but appreciated. To confirm you attendance email, RestoreCouncil@restorethegulf.gov.