Statement by CEQ Chair Sutley on the Release of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Strategy

"President Obama called for a Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration strategy that was designed in partnership with the people of the Gulf to support the vibrant and diverse ecosystems, economies, communities and cultures of the region.  The release of the final strategy represents the incredible collaboration and dedication of the States, the local communities, the Federal Agencies, the Tribes and the people of the Gulf to bringing the Gulf Coast back stronger than ever before.  Even before the oil spill, the Administration marked Gulf restoration as a priority with a Federal Working Group to evaluate how to improve the health of Gulf ecosystems.  Now, at the President's direction, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force has designed a path for addressing some of the most critically important issues affecting the Gulf.  This strategy is a remarkable milestone, but it is far from the end of our work; rather, it is the platform we will use to deliver on-the-ground results for Gulf communities.  The President is committed to continuing to making the recovery and restoration of the Gulf a priority, for the benefit of the region, and our Nation."

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