Barbour forms panel to study oil spill’s impact

JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour yesterday announced the creation of a broad-based panel that will report on the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and aid in the development of a long-term vision to enhance the Gulf of Mexico for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Mississippi Gulf of Mexico Commission is a 34-member board of scientists and business leaders with representatives of state and local governments acting as ex officio members.

Barbour said. “This commission will have a wide charge, from preliminarily determining the impact of the oil spill on Gulf ecosystems to addressing concerns about seafood safety to improving hurricane protection and habitat restoration. The Gulf of Mexico is the driving force of the Gulf Coast economy, so effective long-term planning and action to improve this asset will result in long-term economic growth for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

The commission will work closely with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and various state agencies to develop a plan to submit to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, the former Mississippi governor tapped to lead the long-term restoration of the Gulf of Mexico. The Commission’s first meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., today on the seventh floor of the Hancock Bank building in Gulfport.

Commission members include: co-chairs Dr. Bill Walker, director of the Department of Marine Resources, and Trudy Fisher, director of the Department of Environmental Quality; Richard Gollott representing seafood processors; Tom Becker representing the Mississippi Gulf Coast Charter Boats Association; Dr. Vernon Asper, marine science professor at USM; Dr. Ray Highsmith, director of the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology at Ole Miss; Dr. David Shaw, vice president for Research and Economic Development at MSU; Dr. LaDon Swann, director of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium; Dr. Jay Grimes, professor of marine microbial ecology at USM; Ron Peresich, chairman of the Gulf Coast Business Council; John Hairston with Hancock Bank; Jerry St. Pe, Jackson County businessman; Chuck Benvenutti, Hancock County businessman; Robert Khayat, former Ole Miss Chancellor; Frances Turnage with the State Port Commission; Dr. Hank Bounds, IHL commissioner; Steve Renfroe with Chevron; Tish Williams, Director of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce; Sen. Tommy Moffatt; Rep. Frances Fredericks; 11 mayors; and, the presidents of the Jackson, Harrison and Hancock county Boards of Supervisors.

One Response to “Barbour forms panel to study oil spill’s impact”

1. Barbara Correro Says:
   August 19th, 2010 at 6:13 am

   If Barbour is so concerned about the environment, why am I looking at a coal plant with strip mining here in Kemper County? The Mississippi Public Service Commission tried to put some controls in until Barbour wrote a “letter” to thr PSC that he wanted it pushed through.