President Bush Extends 100 Percent Pay for Marine Debris Removal
Release Date: June 30, 2006
Release Number: 1604-397
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BILOXI, Miss. -- Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Donald Powell today announced that the federal government will continue to pay 100 percent of the cost of marine debris removal from the Mississippi Sound through May 15, 2007.
The area eligible for assistance is limited to existing projects in the Mississippi Sound, which runs across some 90 miles of shoreline. The eligible area also includes rivers and tributaries in the southern Mississippi region that is part of the intra-coastal waterway system.
In making the announcement, Powell stated, "The President is strongly committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast, and debris removal is a key part of this long-term rebuilding effort." The federal government also will continue to pay 100 percent of the cost of all debris removal for five parishes in Louisiana through December 31, 2006, Powell announced.
Mississippi has removed almost 98 percent of its dry debris. Most of the remaining debris is wet debris, including an estimated one million cubic yards in the Sound. Wet debris takes longer to identify, contract and remove-and the state has only recently begun to remove it. Marine debris is being removed by the U.S. Coast Guard under a mission assignment from FEMA. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and other agencies are working closely with the Coast Guard to accomplish the removal task.
Mississippi has received four extensions of the initial 100 percent federal reimbursement for debris removal.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 30-Jun-2006 09:19:20