ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13554Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13554

Establishing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force

This executive order creates an intergovernmental task force to coordinate restoration of Gulf Coast ecosystems damaged by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and address long-term ecological decline. The Task Force includes federal agencies, five Gulf State representatives, and tribal representatives, and is charged with developing a regional restoration strategy within one year.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 62313

Impact dates

  1. Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy due

  2. First Task Force meeting

Key directives

  • Establish Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force with specified federal agency membership
  • President designates Chair from senior officials; Gulf State representatives select Vice-Chair
  • Task Force shall prepare Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy within 1 year
  • First Task Force meeting within 90 days of order date
  • Task Force shall prepare biennial updates to President on restoration progress
  • Commerce (NOAA), Interior (FWS), and Justice shall identify linkages with NRDA Trustee Council
  • Executive departments shall consider aligning programs with Strategy
  • Task Force may establish technical working groups

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Task Force establishment
  • Chair designation by President
  • Executive Director selection by Chair

Near term (90d)

  • First Task Force meeting required
  • Initial coordination with Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council
  • Technical working group establishment

Long term

  • Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy due
  • Biennial progress updates to President ongoing
  • Alignment of federal programs with Strategy

Risks & tensions

  • Advisory-only structure lacks binding authority; implementation depends on voluntary agency alignment (Sec. 4(b)) and appropriations availability (Sec. 7(a)-(b))
  • Explicit non-interference clause with NRDA Trustee Council statutory authority may create coordination friction (Sec. 7(e))
  • Vague 'to the extent permitted by law' and appropriations dependencies throughout may limit operational capacity
  • Termination criteria left undefined beyond 'circumstances' description in Strategy (Sec. 4(a)(6))
Executive Order 13554: Establishing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force · Executive Orders