Washington, D.C. – Today, the Office of Management and Budget and the White House Council on Environmental Quality released guidelines for federal agencies to use in the review and permitting of restoration projects for the Gulf Coast. These guidelines will be used as a blueprint for the Gulf Coast Interagency Environmental Working Group, which is the coordinating body for federal agencies working on restoration and responsible for overseeing restoration efforts funded by the penalties BP paid for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Conservation groups working on Gulf restoration — Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy — issued the following joint statement:

“The White House’s new guidance will help fast track Gulf restoration. Their emphasis on restoring the Gulf ecosystem, coordination between agencies, timely review and transparency will keep the restoration process on the right track.

“This is a signal from the Obama administration that Gulf restoration is a high priority that should move swiftly.  Getting restoration projects on the ground quickly should be a federal priority, as the people of the Gulf Coast are relying on a strong ecosystem to keep their homes, businesses and communities safe.”