Obama commits to 'whatever necessary' to restore Gulf Coast, 1 year after BP spill

Obama commits to 'whatever necessary' to restore Gulf Coast, 1 year after BP spill

2011-04-20 19:17:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday reiterated the U.S. commitment to restore the Gulf Coast, one year after the BP oil spill disaster occurred.

"My Administration is committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect and restore the Gulf Coast," Obama underlined. "Today, we remember the eleven lives lost as a result of this tragic event and thank the thousands of responders who worked to mitigate this disaster. But we also keep a watchful eye on the continuing and important work required to ensure that the Gulf Coast recovers stronger than before."

One year ago, on April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, killing eleven men and ultimately releasing an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, evidencing the vital connection between the environment and the economic health of the Gulf and the U.S.

Millions of Americans were deeply affected by the catastrophic event, Obama noted, from local fishermen to restaurant and hotel owners and small businesses throughout the region.

"From the beginning, my administration brought every available resource to bear, amassing the largest oil spill response in our nation's history. At the height of the response, approximately 48,000 men and women worked tirelessly to mitigate the worst impacts of the spill. While we've made significant progress, the job isn't done," Obama added.

Nearly 2,000 responders are actively working in the Gulf to aid in the ongoing recovery efforts, while the U.S. continues to hold BP and other responsible parties fully accountable for the damage they have done, including the loss of lives and environmental impacts.

"We’re monitoring seafood to ensure its continued safety and implementing aggressive new reforms for offshore oil production in the Gulf so that we can safely and responsibly expand development of our own energy resources," Obama stated, adding that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is leading a task force to coordinate the long-term restoration effort based on input from local scientists, experts, and citizens.

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