About the RESTORE Act
The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), which was attached to the Surface Transportation Bill, was passed on June 29, 2012, by Congress and signed into law on July 6, 2012, by the president. The RESTORE Act allocates to the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (Trust Fund) 80% of the Clean Water Act (CWA) administrative and civil penalties resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which are paid by the responsible party(ies) pursuant to a court order, negotiated settlement or other instrument. Prior to passage of the RESTORE Act, CWA civil penalties would have been deposited into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
Under the provisions of the RESTORE Act, 80% of all CWA administrative and civil penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will go into the trust fund to be distributed based on the following allocation:
Direct Component - 35% will be split equally among the five Gulf Coast states. In Florida, 7% will be allocated to the counties as follows:
- 75% of the funds going directly to the eight disproportionately affected counties, Escambia County to Wakulla County
- 25% going to the non-disproportionately impacted Gulf coastal counties.
Council-Selected Restoration Component – 30% will be allocated to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) to develop and implement the Comprehensive Plan.
Spill Impact Component – 30% of the funds will be allocated to the five Gulf Coast states based on a formula in the RESTORE Act.
- In Florida, the Gulf Consortium will develop the State Expenditure Plan (SEP).
- These funds will be released to the state of Florida upon the Council approving the SEP.
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology Program - 2.5% will be allocated to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who in consultation with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will use the funds to carry out research, observation and monitoring to support, to the maximum extent practicable, the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem, fish stocks, fish habitat and the recreational, commercial and charter fishing industry in the Gulf of America.
Centers of Excellence Research Grants - The remaining 2.5% of the funds will be split equally among the five Gulf Coast states to award competitive grants to nongovernmental entities and consortia in the Gulf Coast region (including public and private institutions of higher education) for the establishment of centers of excellence.
- For Florida, the Florida Institute of Oceanography will be in charge of awarding the competitive grants.
