Congresswoman Kathy Castor released the following statement today regarding a $1 billion payment from BP to the Natural Resources Trustees for the states of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, as well as the Department of the Interior and NOAA, for Gulf Coast early environmental restoration in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster:

“I applaud the Administration -- Department of the Interior, NOAA and Department of Justice -- for negotiating with BP for this $1 billion down-payment. This includes a $100 million payment to the trustees of the state of Florida for Gulf Coast early environmental restoration. This is great news for Florida, coming one year after the BP/ Deepwater Horizon disaster devastated our state. Restoring our Gulf Coast is vital to our recovery.

“Now it’s Florida’s turn to fight to hold BP and other responsible parties fully accountable for the impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Though this environmental down-payment today is a significant step, we still need to work toward the full economic recovery of our state, its small businesses and tourism industry. At the roundtable I held this week, I heard from tourism leaders and small-business owners about how they are still suffering a year after the disaster.

“I will keep working through the Gulf Coast Caucus on my legislation to direct 80 percent of the fines and penalties to be paid by BP for violations of the Clean Water Act to restoring the Gulf Coast and its economy. We must protect the Gulf Coast from further damages both environmentally and economically as we move forward to restoring it back to its natural beauty.”

The money can be used for early environmental restoration including rehabilitating coastal marshes, replenishing damaged beaches, conserving sensitive areas for ocean habitat for injured wildlife and restoring barrier islands and wetlands.