Gulf Oil Spill
(2012-01-17)
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NEW ORLEANS, LA
(WWNO) -
Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu is leading the Senate effort. Republican Steve Scalise of Jefferson is driving the House bill. But the White House isn't specifically backing the 80 percent plan. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, in New Orleans last month for the first Gulf oil lease sale, says it's a matter for lawmakers.
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"With respect to the Congressional efforts to dedicate the bulk of the civil penalties of the Clean Water Act over to Gulf coast restoration, we're supportive so long as they are consistent with the recommendations that were made by the Mabus report. It's a matter which is currently being considered in Congress and we'll see what happens with that."
The Mabus report - written by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus calls for a "significant amount" of the Clean Water Act fines to fund recovery programs in the five Gulf states. Those fines could be as much as $20 billion dollars.
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