Transparency
In 2016, a federal court in New Orleans approved a settlement among the Gulf States, United States, and BP totaling approximately $18.7 billion related to claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As a result of the settlement, an additional $1.5 billion will come to Mississippi for natural resource damages and civil penalties under the Clean Water Act. These funds will be distributed to the state over the next several years and are in addition to $659 million of early funding already received. In all, Mississippi is receiving a total of nearly $2.174 billion in compensation.
Under the settlement, Mississippi will receive approximately $183 million in additional Natural Resource Damage Assessment payments and approximately $582 million in Clean Water Act penalties to be distributed via the RESTORE Act.
The $1.5 billion consent decree includes:
- Approximately $183 million in Natural Resource Damage Assessment payments, to be paid over 15 years, which will be used for environmental restoration;
- Approximately $582 million in Clean Water Act penalties under the RESTORE Act. These funds will be paid over 15 years and used for environmental and economic restoration.
- $750 million in economic damages paid over 17 years to be paid into the Mississippi Budget Contingency Fund, which will be available for appropriation by the Mississippi Legislature
Breakdown of $659 Million in Early Funding Already Received:
- $112.557 million in Natural Resource Damage Assessment Early Restoration payments;
- $106 million in RESTORE Act payments
- $356 million in National Fish and Wildlife Foundation payments;
- $75 million in response actions/clean-up payments.
Current Transparency Procurements:
- IFB – North Beardslee Lake Project
- IFB – Integrity Monitoring
- IFB – Vegetation Monitoring
- RFQ – E&D for St. Louis Bay Living Shoreline
- RFQ – Land Surveyor Services
- RFQ – West Hancock County Engineering and Design Services
