Projects must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding, per RESTORE Act legislation:
- Restoration and protection of natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region.
- Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources
- Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring
- Workforce development and job creation
- Improvements to state parks in coastal areas affected by Deepwater Horizon spill
- Infrastructure projects benefitting economy or ecological resources, including ports
- Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure
- Planning assistance
- Promotion of tourism, including recreational fishing
- Promotion of consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region
(Note: US Treasury rules, when they are promulgated, may impose additional criteria, details, and clarifications.)
