U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the statement below following today’s announcement that BP agreed to a tentative settlement of $18.7 billion for claims resulting from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster:

“Today’s multi-billion dollar settlement provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore the Gulf of Mexico and launch a robust environmental and economic recovery for the Gulf region. The settlement is a vital part of holding BP fully accountable for its gross negligence and economic and environmental damage. Workers lost their lives and others lost their livelihoods. I personally met with small business owners, fishermen, hotel operators and tourism industry representatives who suffered tremendously from this catastrophe. Our state and local communities suffered as well.

“One of my top priorities in Congress since the 2010 BP disaster has been to work to return the Gulf of Mexico, its communities and related small businesses to better than they were before the blowout. Implementation of the new RESTORE Act, a law that directs 80 percent of the Clean Water Act penalties to restoring the Gulf, is central to the Gulf restoration effort. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dramatically improve the environmental and economic vitality of the Gulf of Mexico with legal proceeds under RESTORE Act and the settlement announced today. The terms of today’s settlement mean that 80 percent of $5.5 billion will be appropriately directed to this restoration effort thanks to the RESTORE Act passed by Congress in 2012.”

U.S. Rep. Castor has been an outspoken critic of BP following the Deepwater Horizon disaster. She fought to hold BP accountable, for adoption of the RESTORE Act, for research dollars, and for the economic recovery of businesses impacted by the blowout. Immediately following the disaster in 2010, she helped to secure $10 million from BP to fund a rapid research response by the Florida Institute of Oceanography and urged BP to provide samples of its oil that were necessary for USF research. U.S. Rep. Castor also successfully fought to have the RESTORE Act direct 80 percent of fines and penalties paid by BP for violations of the Clean Water Act to restoring the Gulf Coast.

###