Michelle Erenberg

Elmer’s Island, LA: Taken on April 12, 2013When it comes to the BP disaster, a big part of GRN’s work is focused on ensuring BP is held accountable for restoring the Gulf’s environment in the wake of this catastrophe. In part, that’s why we didn’t weigh in sooner on the news stories popping up about […]

endangered Alabama beach mouse – photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceTwo years ago BP promised $1 billion dollars of Early Restoration to kickstart the recovery of the natural resources damaged by their oil. Recently, the Gulf States have announced a new round of projects that they intend to fund with the Early Restoration

Community members discuss the Council’s Draft Plan in BiloxiLast week we wrapped up a series of community meetings that were held in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and co-hosted with several other organizations as part of Gulf Future. Members of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council were invited to share a meal with community members and

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released on Thursday a draft initial comprehensive plan for spending Clean Water Act fines on projects that will restore Gulf’s ecosystem and economy. The draft plan, required by the RESTORE Act, is open for public comment through June. This much anticipated plan landed like a thud, though, because in

GRN’s Jonathan Henderson finds tarballs on Elmer’s Island April 12 2013Last week, all five Gulf states announced new projects intended to be funded by the $1 billion dollars of early restoration monies promised by BP on April 20, 2011. In recent monthly we have been publically demanding that BP and the Trustees for the Natural

Today, GRN and partner organizations held press events in New Orleans, LA and Biloxi, MS to release Gulf Future Guidance for Sustainable Restoration. This document was drafted by fifty-nine organizations, including GRN, from across the Gulf at the 2013 Gulf Gathering in March. Through two days of discussion we outlined our vision and priorities for

2013 Gulf Gathering AttendeesLast week, conservation, faith-based, civil rights and community organizations from across the Gulf Coast came together for the 4th Annual Gulf Gathering. This meeting provided a critical opportunity for GRN and other groups working with the Gulf Future Coalition to sit down and discuss our vision for how we would like to

Last Tuesday and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council came down for public meetings about how they plan to move forward with restoring the Gulf. In January, they releasedThe Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast, a simple six-page snapshot of what we need to do to ensure the long-term environmental health and economic prosperity

Citizens wait at the microphone to speak up on restoration at the First meeting of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council in DecemberSo much has happened in the last twelve months that is finally moving us closer to making ecosystem restoration a reality. Last year, the RESTORE Act passed, ensuring 80% of the Clean Water

This week the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council met for the first time in Mobile, AL. This Council, established by the RESTORE Act, will oversee spending of the 80% of the Clean Water Act fines BP will pay for the 2010 oil disaster. Although the exact amount of those fines or when they might be