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Southern Miss Researchers Applaud BP Oil Spill Settlement Announcement
The University of Southern Mississippi research community applauded the news today that Mississippi has reached an agreement in principle with British Petroleum (BP) to settle claims related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Attorney General Jim Hood announced at a news conference today in Biloxi that the proposed settlement will bring approximately $1.5 billion in additional relief to Mississippi over the next 17 years. Combined with $659 million in early funding, Mississippi is receiving a total of nearly $2.2 billion in compensation.
The Mississippi allotment is part of an $18.7 billion settlement the federal government, five Gulf Coast states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Texas), as well as 400 local government bodies, reached with BP.
“This is wonderful news. Once again, the State of Mississippi has shown great leadership in pushing a settlement and is ahead of the curve in implementing meaningful restoration,” said Dr. Monty Graham, interim director for USM’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and chair of the Department of Marine Science. “USM and its vast research and educational capacity in ocean science and technology will have a prime role in shaping the future of coastal Mississippi and its workforce.”
The Mississippi compensation package will help fund ongoing oil spill-related research of the northern Gulf of Mexico by Southern Miss marine scientists. To date, the University has received approximately $35 million in research grants and contracts from various state, regional and national entities.
The Deepwater Horizon Macondo oil well drilling platform exploded on April 20, 2010, approximately 50 miles southeast of the Louisiana coast. Eleven workers were killed and 17 others were injured in the explosion. The blast ruptured a well beneath the water’s surface, creating an oil leak that last 87 days. More than 200 million gallons of crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico, affecting 16,000 total miles of coastline from Texas to Florida.
“Mississippi suffered tragic losses as a result of the BP oil spill. Eleven men died, including four Mississippians,” Gov. Bryant said. “For months, we battled to protect our shorelines and the unique ecosystems and natural resources of our beautiful Gulf Coast from millions of gallons of oil and chemicals. And for years, we have worked diligently to pursue all legal recourse and rightful compensation resulting from this disaster. Today is a victory for Mississippi and a victory for a treasured way of life on the Gulf Coast.”
Under the $1.5 billion agreement in principle with BP, Mississippi will receive approximately $183 million in Natural Resource Damage Assessment payments and approximately $582 million in Clean Water Act penalties under the RESTORE Act. Mississippi will also receive $750 million in economic damages.
The agreement in principle with BP also provides up to $1 billion to settle claims in the five Gulf States between BP and local governments and other public entities. Settlement amounts for individual governments and public entities, including those in Mississippi, have not yet been determined. Discussions are ongoing, and an announcement is expected on or about July 12.
“One of the purposes of the BP settlement is to make Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico whole after the damages caused by the oil spill. But we first have to understand the details of what was broken,” said Dr. Gordon Cannon, vice president for Research at Southern Miss. “From the University’s standpoint the resources made available to conduct research in the Gulf will go a long way to providing solutions for repairing the damage and truly making the Gulf region whole again.”
In the immediate aftermath of the oil spill, scientists from the University’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) and Department of Marine Science at Stennis Space Center began investigating and processing the damage caused by the explosion. Less than two weeks after the disaster, the University assembled an Oil Spill Response Team to coordinate efforts in monitoring the spill’s repercussions.
Five years after the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, scientists at Southern Miss continue to lead the way in mapping and analyzing the oil spill’s effects on the Gulf waters’ fragile ecosystem. Ongoing studies have led to numerous papers published in research journals across the world. In 2013 Southern Miss spearheaded formation of the Center for Gulf Studies which serves as a focal point for new, long-term research and socioeconomic initiatives along the northern Gulf of Mexico.
“USM is planting a flag to provide research and education needs for the next two decades related to long term restoration and economic development,” said Graham. “Lives are still being impacted by the spill, and we remain committed to studying those impacts as the recognized leader in Gulf Coast marine science.”
About The University of Southern Mississippi
Founded in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi is a comprehensive doctoral and research-driven university with a proud history and an eye on the future. A dual-campus university, Southern Miss serves students on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, in addition to five teaching and research sites in Mississippi and through Online at Southern Miss. Since 2006, Southern Miss students have collected seven Goldwater Scholarships, three Truman Scholarships and 14 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Our Center for Undergraduate Research affords our students meaningful research opportunities, and as a proven leader in innovation, we conduct transformative research that translates into real-world solutions. As one of a select number of institutions in the nation accredited in art, dance, music and theatre, we are a haven for creativity and artistic expression. In the classroom or lab, on the playing field, or in the performance hall, we strive to have a positive impact not only on our students, but also the world around us. Further information is found at www.usm.edu.
