TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has received $34.3 million in conservation grants from a settlement over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The National Fish and Wildlife Federation on Monday said the money will fund nine projects that were decided upon in consultation with state and federal environmental agencies.
Gov. Rick Scott applauded the funding, many of which will benefit the Panhandle, and said the work will protect natural resources for future generations.
The money is the second disbursement from the NFWF's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, created by a settlement between the U.S. government, BP and Transocean to resolve criminal charges related to the spill.
Among the funded projects are a $3-million plan to continue studying the recovery of fisheries and $4.5 million for studying the west Florida reefs potentially damaged by the spill.
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