Almost two years after the 2010 BP oil spill sent millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, research efforts into the fallout will be getting substantial funding from the recently passed Restore act, Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said at a press conference at USF St. Petersburg's campus Thursday morning.
“This is huge and good news for the State of Florida” added former St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker.
Under the Restore Act, 80 percent of fines that BP pays the government for the oil spill will be dispersed equally amongst Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. The bipartisan act, attached to a larger Highway Transportation Bill, passed the House 373-52 and the Senate 74-19. President Obama is expected to sign the bill on Friday.
This article appears in Jul 5-11, 2012.