Restoration Updates
RESTORE Council
The RESTORE Council is currently evaluating submissions for potential funding under the Council-Selected Restoration Component. A Draft Funded Priorities List (FPL) is expected soon; public comment will be solicited. The Council published the final rule for the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component Planning Allocation. See the Council's website for information on their activities.
States
Alabama The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC) recently made two announcements. It released the Center of Excellence Research Grants Program Competitive Process and related Solicitation for Proposals. The AGCRC is also soliciting proposals from qualified organizations in the Gulf Coast Region to serve as Alabama's Center of Excellence. A public meeting for review of the proposed NRDA Phase IV Early Restoration Plan projects will be held June 3, 2015 at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile, AL from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council information and updates can be accessed here.
Mississippi is coordinating a public meeting for review of the proposed NRDA Phase IV Early Restoration Plan project. It will be held June 4, 2015 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the University of Southern Mississippi in Long Beach, Mississippi. A Request for Statements of Qualifications (RFQ) for Programmatic Construction Manager to aid the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality with Mississippi's RESTORE Act Direct Component Transocean Settlement Construction Projects is currently open and will close June 12, 2015. For information on restoration activities in Mississippi go to Making Mississippi Whole.
Florida A NRDA Trustees public meeting to review proposed projects of the Phase IV Early Restoration Plan is scheduled for June 2, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grant Hotel, Pensacola, Florida from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. More information can be found on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's website. On April 6, 2015, the Gulf Consortium announced that their Planning State Expenditure Plan was submitted as a first step to development of their full State Expenditure Plan. The Consortium has meetings planned for June 19, August 26, and November 18; see their website for more information.
LouisianaThe State of Louisiana is represented by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) on state and RESTORE Council restoration activities. A NRDA Trustees public meeting to review proposed projects of the Phase IV Early Restoration Plan is scheduled for June 8, 2015 at the Belle Chasse Auditorium in Belle Chasse, Louisiana from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.
See all public meetings on the CPRA Calendar.
Texas will benefit from a proposed project as part of the NRDA Phase IV Early Restoration Plan. Two NRDA Trustees public meeting are scheduled: one is for June 10, 2015 at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas. The second is June 11, 2015 at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies in Corpus Christi, Texas from 6:00 - 9:00pm. RESTORE The Texas Coast is the official web location for oil spill related restoration in Texas. Centers of Excellence The Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) is responsible for Florida's Center of Excellence. FIO intends to make it's first award announcements the first of July. A request for proposals is currently open for Alabama's Center of Excellence Research Grant Program. Proposals can be submitted here and the deadline is June 30, 2015. Mississippi is currently reviewing applications for the state's Center of Excellence. Louisiana is reviewing public comments received on the administrative policies for the Center of Excellence grants. Two Texas Centers of Excellence were announced in January. One of the Centers, the Texas OneGulf Consortium, now has a website. NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program Information related to the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program can be found here. The Science Plan Final Version is now available. Dr. Julien Lartigue has been announced as the Director for the Science Program. National Academy of Sciences' Gulf Research Program (NAS) The NAS announced a data synthesis funding opportunity related to observation and monitoring data is open. Letters of intent are due June 15, 2015. To follow the NAS' Gulf Research Program and register for updates, go to their website. Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) The NRDA Trustees recently announced agreement in principle for 10 Gulf Early Restoration Projects as part of Phase IV. Six regional public meetings have been scheduled, June 2-11, 2015. More information about NRDA can be found here: www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund Last month NFWF announced a $4.5M project to support development of a Restoration Strategy in Florida. More information can be found on NFWF's website for its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. North American Conservation Wetlands Act Fund (NAWCA) The US Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a website for NAWCA programs. Standard grants programs are currently open for the US, closing July 7 and Canada, closing August 7. The US Small Grants program is also open and closes November 5, 2015. Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference will be February 1-4, 2016 at the Marriott Tampa Waterside, Tampa, Florida. GoMRI is now accepting submissions for Scientific Sessions. The deadline to submit is June 14, 2015. For more information on the GoMRI research visit their website.
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