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Gulf of Mexico Alliance. What the heck is that?. Feb 2, 2011 NWQMC Meeting Pensacola, FL. U.S. Mainland coastline = 4,983 mi U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastline = 1,621 mi = 33%. Gulf of Mexico Alliance. Governors of AL, FL, LA, MS & TX.
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Gulf of Mexico Alliance What the heck is that? Feb 2, 2011NWQMC Meeting Pensacola, FL
U.S. Mainland coastline = 4,983 mi U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastline = 1,621 mi = 33%
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors of AL, FL, LA, MS & TX Ad Hoc Committees (e.g., Data Management Advisory Committee, Public Relations Committee) Federal Workgroup CEQ & 12 Federal Agencies, convened by: NOAA, EPA, & DOI Alliance Management Team Convened by the AMT Chair and/or Executive Director Governor’s Representatives & Alternates and Representatives from EPA, NOAA & DOI Resilience PIT Water Quality PIT Nutrients PIT Education PIT Conservation & Restoration PIT Ecosystem Integration & Assessment PIT Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts
Alliance Leadership Structure • 5 State Leads (appointed by Governors) • 2 Federal Workgroup Co-Chairs Alliance Management Team (AMT) Federal Workgroup (FWG) • CEQ and 12 federal agencies • EPA and NOAA co-chairs Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts
Gulf of Mexico Alliance • Alliance of Governors of five U.S. Gulf states • Develops and carries out targeted Governors’ Action Plan • Focused on highest priorities of all states
Six Priority Issue Teams (PITs) • Water Quality - Florida • Nutrient Reduction - Mississippi • Ecosystem Integration &Assessment - Texas • Habitat Conservation & Restoration - Louisiana • Environmental Education - Alabama • Coastal Community Resilience - Mississippi
Priority Issue Team structure • Team Lead (each state leads a Team) • Coordinator(s): full time • State Leads: onefrom each state • Federal Facilitators: one NOAA, one EPA • Team Members: those with expertise and willing to be actively involved in implementing Action Plan
First Action Plan Spring of 2005 • Three-year plan Second Action Plan June 2009 • Each Team developed: • Chapter of the Governors’ Plan • Team Action Plan (Tier 2 - detailed) • Team Activities Matrix (tasks and Leads) • Workplan (updated annually)
Water Quality Team • Led by Florida • Composed of 4 Workgroups, each with state and federal co-chairs • Pathogens • Harmful Algal Blooms • Mercury in Seafood • Monitoring
Water Quality Team - Staff • Team Lead: Becky Prado, FDEP • Team Coordinators: • Senior Coordinator: Steve Wolfe • Assistant Coordinator: Linda Sedlacek • Issues Coordinator: Heather Ritchie • Administrative Assistant:Matt Mask • Federal Co-Facilitators • EPA: Jeanne Allen, GMPO • NOAA: Chris Sinigalliano, AOML
GOMA and Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout • GOMA was not involved as an entity in oil spill response. Emergency response is a scripted, federally-directed effort. Most GOMA team members were involved, but through the state or federal agencieswhere they work. • GOMA is involved in spill recovery: • A) Teams modified Action Plans where appropriate • B) GOMA is administering the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative funding being provided by BP, $500M over 10 years.