Gulf of Mexico AllianceWhat the heck is that?

Feb 2, 2011 NWQMC Meeting

Pensacola, FL

U.S. Mainland coastline = 4,983 miU.S. Gulf of Mexico coastline = 1,621 mi = 33%

Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts

Governors of AL, FL, LA, MS & TX

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

Alliance Management TeamConvened by the AMT Chair and/or Executive Director Governor’s

Representatives & Alternates and Representatives from EPA, NOAA & DOI

Federal WorkgroupCEQ & 12 Federal Agencies, convened by: NOAA, EPA, & DOI

Nutrients PIT

Conservation & Restoration PIT

Resilience PIT

Education PIT

Ecosystem Integration& Assessment PIT

Water Quality PIT

Ad Hoc Committees (e.g., Data Management Advisory Committee, Public Relations Committee)

Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts

Alliance Leadership Structure5 State Leads (appointed by

Governors)2 Federal Workgroup Co-Chairs

Alliance Manageme

nt Team (AMT)

Federal Workgroup (FWG)

• CEQ and 12 federal agencies• EPA and NOAA co-chairs

Gulf of Mexico AllianceAlliance 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 - FloridaNutrient Reduction - MississippiEcosystem Integration &Assessment - TexasHabitat Conservation & Restoration - LouisianaEnvironmental Education - AlabamaCoastal Community Resilience - Mississippi

Priority Issue Team structureTeam Lead (each state leads a Team)Coordinator(s): full timeState Leads: one from each stateFederal Facilitators: one NOAA, one EPATeam Members: those with expertise and

willing to be actively involved in implementing Action Plan

First Action Plan Spring of 2005Three-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 TeamLed by FloridaComposed of 4 Workgroups, each with state

and federal co-chairsPathogensHarmful Algal BloomsMercury in SeafoodMonitoring

Water Quality Team - Staff Team Lead: Becky Prado, FDEPTeam Coordinators:

Senior Coordinator: Steve WolfeAssistant Coordinator: Linda Sedlacek

Issues Coordinator: Heather RitchieAdministrative Assistant: Matt MaskFederal Co-Facilitators

EPA: Jeanne Allen, GMPONOAA: 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 agencies where they work.

GOMA is involved in spill recovery:A) Teams modified Action Plans where appropriateB) GOMA is administering the Gulf of Mexico Research

Initiative funding being provided by BP, $500M over 10 years.