Congresswomen Kathy Castor (D-FL) who was instrumental in securing the $10 Million grant from BP following the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon blowout disaster issued the following statement regarding the research presented by Florida scientists:

“The vitally important findings of Florida university researchers provide a window into the environmental damage caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout.  The research would not have been possible without these hard-fought, expedited research funds.  I received a briefing last week by a roundtable of USF scientists and am very concerned with the “dirty blizzard” of petroleum byproduct that has accumulated on the floor of Gulf.  Ocean observing systems also have degraded over time and are hindering efforts to predict damage and measure impacts.  It also appears that if the blowout had occurred this year, the Loop current would not have been as favorable to the State of Florida, which raises serious concerns for oil drilling closer to Florida beaches.

The findings also highlight the need for long-term environmental recovery and research in the Gulf of Mexico.  The Gulf ecosystem, fisheries, the food web and water quality all impact Florida’s economic future.  Therefore, we must join together now to secure 80% of the Clean Water Act fines and penalties for the BP blowout for Gulf coast environmental restoration and economic recovery, especially in light of state budget cuts to university research and marine sciences.” 

Castor is Co Chair of the new bipartisan congressional Gulf Coast Caucus and the author of the H.R. 450, the Gulf of Mexico Economic Recovery and Environmental Restoration Act.  Last year, she convinced BP to provide $10 Million to the State of Florida Institute of Oceanography to analyze the impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout disaster.