[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 27 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E225-E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PROTECTING INVESTMENT IN OIL SHALE THE NEXT GENERATION OF 
            ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY, AND RESOURCE SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3408) to set 
     clear rules for the development of United States oil shale 
     resources, to promote shale technology research and 
     development, and for other purposes:

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, in the aftermath of the BP 
Deepwater Horizon disaster, President Obama, lawmakers from both sides 
of the aisle, a national commission, businesses and environmentalists 
reached consensus that 80% of the fines and penalties that BP is 
required to pay for violating the Clean Water Act be devoted to Gulf of 
Mexico recovery and research. All have urged Congress to act, but 
unfortunately, the Congress has not done so.
  As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Gulf Coast Caucus, I ask my colleagues 
not to let the effort languish any longer. The House should act 
expeditiously to do so and devote 80% of the Deepwater Horizon fines 
and penalties to the Gulf of Mexico.
  Unfortunately, the Scalise amendment could be interpreted as an 
endorsement of a particular piece of legislation, such as the RESTORE 
Act. While the RESTORE Act does devote 80% of the Clean Water Act fines 
to the Gulf States, it is flawed in its current form and does not 
achieve meaningful recovery of the Gulf of Mexico.
  So while I urge my colleagues to defeat the amendment, the time is 
now for the Congress to pass an 80% bill and focus on the economic and 
environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico.
  Extensive review of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster and the 
historic degradation of the Gulf of Mexico was conducted by the 
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Secretary of 
the Navy Ray Mabus Report, and the EPA Gulf Restoration

[[Page E226]]

Task Force is appreciated. All recommended recovery and research 
strategies to be funded in large part by 80% of the fines and penalties 
under the Clean Water Act. Although the RESTORE Act purports to follow 
the recommended strategies, it does not and is flawed.


   RESTORE should focus on a Gulf-wide research and recovery strategy

  As currently drafted, the RESTORE Act does not promote a Gulf-wide 
research and recovery strategy. Under the formulas contained in the 
bill that divide the 80% resources, Gulf-wide research and recovery 
efforts would be disjointed and receive short-shrift. The formulas 
currently contained in the bill appear to be based upon Senate dynamics 
rather than a Gulf-wide recovery and research strategy based upon sound 
science. The RESTORE Act fails to make a large enough investment in 
Gulf-wide solutions to the ``dead zone,'' red tide outbreaks that 
threaten tourism, and the health of the Gulf overall. Where is the 
overarching science advisory component that is necessary for such an 
important research and recovery strategy?
  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address critical systemic 
issues that have plagued the Gulf for decades. We must not waste it.


RESTORE should devote greater resources to long term research and Gulf 
                               monitoring

  RESTORE should be improved to ensure that adequate Gulf research and 
monitoring are conducted for decades to come. Many of the impacts from 
the catastrophic disaster are currently impossible to discern to the 
naked eye and in the short-term. The blowout wreaked havoc on 
fisheries, marshes, seagrasses, oyster beds, coasts, and aquatic life. 
In addition, over past decades, science gathering and sharing in the 
Gulf has been neglected. While RESTORE does carve out some dollars for 
long-term research and monitoring, the investments are inadequate to 
ensure a long-term, sustained research and recovery effort.


Do not duplicate Natural Resource Damage Assessments $ Billions flowing 
                           to impacted areas

  Any legislation that devotes 80% of the Clean Water Act fines and 
penalties to the Gulf of Mexico research and recovery effort should not 
duplicate the billions of dollars going to the impacted areas under the 
Oil Pollution Act and the Natural Resource Damage Assessment. One 
billion dollars already have been directed to oiled areas and states 
for cleanup and restoration.


                           Jobs and Economics

  The Gulf is rich in natural resources that support many jobs and 
economic stability for millions of families. The Gulf ecosystem 
produced thirty percent of the United States' gross domestic product in 
2009. If our five Gulf States were one country it would rank seventh in 
global gross domestic product. Our abundance of natural resources is 
critical to our economic health, as those resources dwindle so do our 
livelihoods and our financial stability. Investing in long-term 
environmental restoration and addressing environmental issues present 
prior to the BP oil disaster is critical to achieving comprehensive 
economic restoration.
  I am encouraged to see bipartisan support to direct 80% of the Clean 
Water Act fines to the Gulf of Mexico. However, the RESTORE Act as 
currently drafted falls far short of the coordinated, long-term, 
science-based effort that is needed to protect such a valuable national 
resource. Therefore, I look forward to working with all Members on an 
improved national strategy for the Gulf of Mexico and its communities.

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