RESTORE Act Gulf Coast Restoration Project Idea Submissions

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

MDEQ is soliciting new restoration project ideas and revisions for Mississippi's 2026 Multiyear Implementation Plan and State Expenditure Plan amendments under the RESTORE Act. Project submissions are due by May 15, 2026 through the Mississippi Restoration Project Portal. Final funding is subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Treasury and Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

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What changed

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has opened a consultation period for the 2026 amendment of both the Multiyear Implementation Plan (MIP, Bucket 1) and State Expenditure Plan (SEP, Bucket 3) under the RESTORE Act of 2012. The RESTORE Act established the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, funded by 80% of civil penalties from Deepwater Horizon oil spill violations. MDEQ invites stakeholders to submit new project ideas or revise previously submitted projects via the Mississippi Restoration Project Portal.

Entities interested in Gulf Coast restoration projects should submit or update their project ideas by May 15, 2026 to allow sufficient time for the Governor's Gulf Coast Advisory Committee review. Project inclusion in amended plans does not guarantee funding; final approval rests with the U.S. Department of Treasury for MIP projects and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council for SEP projects. Questions may be directed to restore.portal@mdeq.ms.gov.

What to do next

Submit restoration project ideas to the Mississippi Restoration Project Portal by May 15, 2026
Update any previously submitted projects to ensure current information for committee review
Email restore.portal@mdeq.ms.gov with questions about submission requirements

Source document (simplified)

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The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) established a new Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United States known as the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. Eighty percent of the civil penalties paid after July 6, 2012, under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will be deposited into the Trust Fund and invested. Trust Fund amounts will be available for programs, projects, and activities described in the RESTORE Act.

Two of the programs are the Direct Component (Bucket 1), administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Spill Impact Component-Gulf RESTORE Program (Bucket 3), administered by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. These components required Mississippi, through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), to prepare a Multiyear Implementation Plan (MIP, Bucket 1, 2016) and a State Expenditure Plan (SEP, Bucket 3, 2017) describing each activity, project or program for which Mississippi seeks funding. These plans are periodically amended.

· In preparation of the upcoming amendments for both plans, we welcome you to submit new restoration project ideas or revise previously submitted ideas in the project portal · Mississippi Restoration Project Portal

Please note that the project portal is always available for project idea submissions. In order to allow sufficient time for the Governor’s Gulf Coast Advisory Committee to review new and revised projects, please provide or update your project(s) ideas by May 15, 2026.

Thank you for your engagement in this process. We look forward to considering your restoration project ideas.

Questions about project portal idea submissions may be emailed to: restore.portal@mdeq.ms.gov

*Funding for all projects included on the amended MIP is subject to approval by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Inclusion of a project in the amended MIP does not guarantee funding.

** Funding for all projects included on the amended SEP is subject to approval by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Inclusion of a project in the amended SEP does not guarantee funding.*

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Named provisions

RESTORE Act of 2012 Direct Component (Bucket 1) Spill Impact Component-Gulf RESTORE Program (Bucket 3) Multiyear Implementation Plan State Expenditure Plan