UF-Led Team Awarded More Than $6.5 Million for Oil Spill Projects

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The National Institutes of Health has awarded a University of Florida-led team more than $6.5 million to study the environmental and psychological effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on communities along the Gulf coasts of Florida and Alabama.

The grant was announced today by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and is part of a five-year, $25.2 million program that funds population-based and laboratory studies by researchers at UF and three other universities: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Tulane University and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. UF faculty will also partner with scientists at the University of West Florida, University of South Alabama and the University of Maryland.

“We’re providing a comprehensive approach to examining the public health effects of the 2010 oil spill in the Florida/Alabama region, but doing it in close collaboration with communities and community organizations,” said Dr. J. Glenn Morris Jr., director of the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute and the grant’s principal investigator.

… Continue Reading

Governor, Attorney General and Feinberg Agree on Gulf Coast Claims Facility Improvements

Tallahassee – Following meetings last month, Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Claims Czar Kenneth Feinberg have agreed on initial steps for improving the Gulf Coast Claims Facility’s (GCCF) process regarding outstanding Florida claims as a result of the Deepwater oil spill.

“Florida’s tourism, fishing and seafood industries are still feeling the impacts of last summer’s disaster almost a year later,” said Gov. Scott. “Mr. Feinberg agrees that It’s time to get to work and implement a streamlined, fair and effective way of paying these claims for Floridians.”

… Continue Reading

Attorney General Bondi to hold brief media availability on her meeting with Kenneth Feinberg

Media Advisory

To: Interested State Media
Date: February 17, 2011
Subject: Attorney General Bondi to hold brief media availability on her
meeting with Kenneth Feinberg

Members of the Media,
Attorney General Bondi will hold a briefing for reporters on her meeting
with Kenneth Feinberg regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill claims
process.

Date and Time: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, 8:35 a.m.

Location: Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01
Tallahassee, FL
Contact:
Jenn Meale
Phone: 850.245.0150
jennifer.meale@myfloridalegal.com

# # #

Gulf Coast Claims Facility Administrator Feinberg to Hold TownHall Meeting

Feinberg to Explain Guidelines and Process For Interim & Final Payments and
“Quick Pay” Claims From Independent Fund

Panama City Beach, FL (January 14, 2011) — Gulf Coast Claims Administrator Kenneth R. Feinberg will return to Florida on Wednesday, January 19 to meet with citizens to explain the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) guidelines for interim and final payments, and “quick pay” claims.

The Town Hall meeting will take place at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort Conference Center, 520 Richard Jackson Blvd. in Panama City Beach, from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon; at 12:00 pm there will be press availability. The Town Hall meeting is open to the public and the media.
For questions, contact Catherine Collins at the Beach Chamber, at (850) 235-1159.

# # #

CONTACT:
Beth Oltman, President & CEO
Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
850-235-1159
Beth@PCBeach.org

Statement by Governor Charlie Crist Regarding Filing Deadline for Oil Spill Emergency Claims on Tuesday, November 23, 2010

“With the deadline to submit a claim for Emergency Advance Payments approaching tomorrow, I encourage all individuals and business owners to quickly finalize and submit their applications. These emergency payments can help Floridians economically hurt by this summer’s oil spill, as well as boost our statewide economy.

“When one part of Florida’s economy is hit hard, our whole state suffers. Few tar balls actually touched our beaches, yet businesses throughout our state have struggled to overcome the false perceptions of oil-tainted sand, water and seafood. Their struggles prove that we cannot underestimate the importance of Florida’s beautiful beaches and Gulf waters to our economic vitality and quality of life.
… Continue Reading

This week at the University of Florida Levin College of Law (UF Law): Oil Spill Symposium and Social Media Presentation

UF Law oil spill symposium

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Legal responses to the disaster caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill this summer are wide-ranging and varied, according to law professors from UF Law who have been studying laws and policies that can determine liability for such environmental disasters.

The symposium will outline the legal basis for responding to the oil spill and will examine Florida, federal and admiralty laws; types of recovery including resources, economic, communities and damages; the claims process; responses from commissions established by the State of Florida and by President Obama; and legislative actions that could assist oil spill victims. The event is free and open to the public. … Continue Reading

FSU Scientists to Lead Comprehensive Oil-Spill Study — Florida to Louisiana

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –– A distinguished group of Florida State University oceanographers, meteorologists, and marine biologists and ecologists will share a new, $500,000 grant from the Northern Gulf Institute to conduct a comprehensive study of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s impact on coastal and ocean marine ecosystems in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.

“This project will take us beyond shock and anxiety to show us what has really happened and suggest where the remediation efforts must lead us,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Joseph Travis, a biologist recognized for his work in population ecology. … Continue Reading

MEETING ADVISORY – Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force

The Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force will meet on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, in Tallahassee. The public is invited to attend.

Details for the meeting are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Time: 10:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Location: Betty Easley Conference Center, Room 148
Address: 4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

To listen live to this task force meeting via conference call, please call 888-249-0314 and enter the passcode 97203577. Additional task force information is available at www.flgov.com/gulfrecoverytaskforce.

Contact:
Governor’s Press Office
(850) 488-5394

ATTACHED: Meeting Agenda

9.1.2010 Task Force Meeting Agenda

Florida’s Response To The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Reaches Day 100

~100 days of activation for state emergency response officials~

TALLAHASSEE – Tomorrow, August 7, 2010, marks the 100th day of activation for the Florida State Emergency Response Team’s response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident. For more than three months, Florida emergency response officials have focused on maximizing response efforts and minimizing impacts associated with this disaster. … Continue Reading

Governor Crist Announces Closed Harvesting Area in Escambia County Reopens

Governor Charlie Crist announced tonight that The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reopened coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, at 12:01 a.m. July 31. The FWC closed this area on June 14 as a precautionary measure due to possible impacts of oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“The reopening of gulf waters for fishing is positive news for Floridians who depend on this important industry and for our recreational users and tourist,” said Governor Crist. “Florida seafood is safe to eat and I thank the Food and Drug Administration for completing the test so quickly. … Continue Reading

A Glimpse of the Florida Legislature’s 2010 Special Session

By Representative Joe Gibbons
July 30, 2010

On July 20, the Florida Legislature was called into special session in response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Recognizing the threats to our coastal communities and ecosystems, Governor Charlie Crist called the session for the sole purpose of asking the Legislature to allow voters to consider amending the Florida Constitution this fall to prohibit near-shore drilling in state waters 3 to 10 miles from our coastline.

House Speaker Larry Cretul began the session telling Florida House members that the governor lacked veto power over proposed constitutional amendments and the proposed amendment would not resolve the current issues caused by the spill. He said additional studies were needed before the House and Senate should respond. Rather than acting on the constitutional amendment, he established six workgroups to address problems facing Florida’s coastal communities. … Continue Reading

National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Announces Gulf Surface Oil Not A Threat To South Florida, Keys Or East Coast

TALLAHASSEE- -The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that a new analysis shows Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are unlikely to experience any effects from the remaining oil on the surface of the Gulf as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. No new oil has leaked from the Deepwater Horizon well in 15 days and the surface oil that remains is hundreds of miles away from the loop current and in the process of degrading. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 30, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Message of the day:  FLORIDA: THE FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Florida is known as the fishing capital of the world and on July 30 the world will have an opportunity to see firsthand that fishing is alive and well in Florida. With the recent coverage of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Floridians are setting the record straight that Florida seafood is safe and that the waters in Florida are open for fishing. … Continue Reading

Florida Emergency Response Officials To Begin Rightsizing Response Efforts To The Deepwater Horizon Incident

TALLAHASSEE- -The State Emergency Response Team, in coordination with US Coast Guard officials, and county partners will today begin rightsizing Florida’s response efforts to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

“The capping of the well and progress toward permanent well-kill have reduced the threat of oil to Florida’s shores and sensitive environments,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael W. Sole. “We will now begin the cautious and measured rightsizing of protective measures to help Florida’s residents and communities start the road to recovery. However, boom will be redeployed as necessary, as well as other assets within each branch area of operation, should conditions change.” … Continue Reading

Attorney General Announces Two Oil Spill-Related Investigations

TALLAHASSEE, FL- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office
has launched investigations into two companies over allegations they
offered free emergency response training to consumers, but then withheld
the certifications for various reasons. Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) training is required by anyone who
is exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances while on the
job, including those hired to assist with the Deepwater Horizon cleanup
response.

“When disasters strike, fraud follows closely behind, and my office will
remain vigilant in our consumer protection actions,” said Attorney General
McCollum. “Consumers who have any complaints about fraud or scams related
to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill should report to my office
immediately.” … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 29, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Message of the day: GATOR
Florida residents and visitors can track the state’s response efforts to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by utilizing the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s GATOR tracking device. GATOR, which stands for Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and Response, tracks reports of oil impacts on Florida’s shoreline, reconnaissance and cleanup missions, weather radar and tropical system updates using geographic data that is updated in real time. The interactive web mapping tool helps to support emergency preparedness, operations and response in Florida. Click here to start using GATOR. Learn more. … Continue Reading

House to list Deepwater Horizon oil spill work group schedule information on web

Speaker Cretul’s goal is to ensure that the activities of the House’s  Deepwater Horizon response work groups are accessible to the public, to the extent practical. He is also mindful of the expense for member travel to Tallahassee during this interim. While notice of work group discussions are not required,  he believes that all meetings of significance involving legislative business on these issues should be open to the public and given as much advance notice as possible.

Speaker Cretul is directing that all work group meetings be noticed and accessible, to the extent practical.  Therefore, work group conference calls (and call-in numbers), as well as all site visits and related events and work plans, are scheduled to be listed regularly on the Deepwater Horizon Response and Recovery Plan page on the House web site, www.myfloridahouse.gov beginning tomorrow, Thursday, July 29, 2010.

We will try to provide as much advance notice as possible, but interested persons should check the house website regularly for schedule updates. As a general rule, if an activity is scheduled on the same day for which it is planned, I will send out an advisory. Otherwise, please check the web site.

In the meantime, FYI:
DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE AND RECOVERY WORKGROUPS

SCHEDULED EVENTS

Thursday, July 29

Workgroup 2 – Assessment of programs and resources to meet immediate needs of impacted areas

Start Date and Time:  Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:30 PM (Eastern)
Meeting Type:             Conference Call
Dial-in Number: (866) 379-2302
Code: 91287542

Consideration of the following items:
The work plan
Member assignments

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 27, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Message of the day: VISIT FLORIDA – Florida Live
To ensure Florida’s visitors are able to make the most informed travel planning decisions, VISIT FLORIDA has created Florida Live at VISITFLORIDA.com. This new webpage allows those planning a trip to Florida to see what’s really happening in the state at any given time.  They can watch live webcams, read Twitter feeds and daily blog posts by tourism experts, see date-and-time stamped photos and videos taken by people enjoying Florida now, and view a listing of vacation deals that include a worry free guarantee so they can book with confidence. … Continue Reading

The Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force will meet on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in Destin

Details for the meeting are as follows:

Date:               Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Time:              9:00a.m. – 3:30p.m. (CDT)
Location:        Emerald Grande at Harbor Walk Village
Address:        10 Harbor Boulevard
Destin, Florida 32541

To listen live to this task force meeting via conference call, please call 888-249-0314 and enter the passcode 90688841. Additional task force information is available at www.flgov.com/gulfrecoverytaskforce.

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 26, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

“We continue to be extremely encouraged that the Deepwater Horizon well has been capped for 11 days, and we continue to monitor the oil remaining in the Gulf of Mexico. We are focused on evaluating the response needs in Florida and taking the necessary measures to ensure Florida’s residents, coastal communities and beaches are protected,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director, David Halstead. … Continue Reading