Non-RESTORE Funds

Other sources of Gulf restoration funds are available in addition to RESTORE funds. Generally, these sources focus on environmental restoration or the public’s recreational access to Gulf resources. See a related page on this topic.

Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Early Restoration

BP committed up to one billion dollars for early restoration (PDF) for natural resource damages due to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The funds are also available to compensate for the public’s reduced access to Gulf resources due to the disaster. Additional funds will likely be available later after the full NRDA process is complete.

Each of the five Gulf states was allocated $100 million, and federal agencies were allocated $200 million. An additional $300 million is targeted for state-proposed restoration projects selected by federal agencies. Florida has proposed projects that will commit its $100 million allocation. Some of these projects are solely in Bay County; others are regional projects that will include Bay County. Federal agency-controlled funds are still available.

Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund

The Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund resulted from plea agreements related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The agreements direct $2.544 billion to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to fund projects benefiting the natural resources of the Gulf Coast that were impacted by the spill.

For Florida, $356 million will be paid into the Gulf Fund from 2013 to 2018 for conservation that remedy harm to natural resources (habitats, species) where there has been injury to, or destruction of, loss of, or loss of use of those resources resulting from the oil spill. Funds will primarily be spent in the Florida panhandle. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will advise NFWF on potential projects.