As the five-year anniversary of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig approaches, a new National Wildlife Federation report looks at how twenty species of wildlife are faring in the aftermath of the disaster.
"Five years later, wildlife in the Gulf are still feeling the impacts of the oil spill," said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. "The science is clear that this is not over -- and sea turtles, dolphins, fish, and birds are still suffering from the fallout. Holding BP fully accountable and using all fines and penalties to restore the Gulf of Mexico must be a national priority."
Among the findings in Five Years and Counting: Gulf Wildlife in the Aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster:
"Wildlife from sperm whales to marsh ants are still feeling the effects of the disaster," said Ryan Fikes, the National Wildlife Federation's Gulf of Mexico restoration scientist. "But BP seems to prefer attacking scientists over accepting responsibility. It's time for BP to quit stalling so we can start restoring the Gulf."
A federal judge will soon decide the case against BP and the other companies for violations of the Clean Water Act. A law passed in 2012 known as the RESTORE Act will send this money back to the five Gulf states. A National Wildlife Federation report released in December 2014 describes 47 projects that would restore wetlands, rebuild oyster reefs, protect landscapes and re-create a more natural balance between fresh and salt water -- activities that would enhance the health of the Gulf of Mexico.
"It is essential that the money from these penalties be invested in scientifically-sound restoration projects, like those planned for the Mississippi River Delta and the Everglades," said David Muth, the director of Gulf restoration for the National Wildlife Federation. "It is our responsibility to future generations to make restoration on a transformative scale a reality."
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Materials provided by National Wildlife Federation. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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