so we are independent of nrda.the objectives are to study the impact of the dispersed oil and the ecosystem of the gulf of mexico and affected the gulf states. in a very broad context the fundamental understanding of the dynamics of these events associated environmental stresses and public health implications the gri will support the development of improved oil spill litigation, oil and gas detection characterization and remediation technologies. ultimately the goal is to improve the society's ability to understand and respond to even this like this and to understand the effect on the coastal ecosystem with an emphasis on the gulf of mexico. we have established and are implementing peery viewed competitive grant programs that will support research that advance this understanding in five areas. first, physical distribution, dispersion and delusion of petroleum of constituents and associated contaminants such as disbursements under the action of physical ocean a granite process and tropical storms. second, the chemic

i appreciate your leadership and efforts to stay on top of the nrda process.i do believe it is important in thank you for doing that. i know senator victor, how many hours he spent working on this though as i did and how it impacted ours dates and we appreciate you bringing this forward. during the last year, deepwater horizon is it and, more than 200 million gallons of oil spilled into the polls, 20 times the volume as you said, mr. chairman, of the relief during exxon valdez. much of that was dispersed to chemical disbursement's to remove more than a day in coldwater belasco. but we don't know the impact all of that will have on our system environmentally. for a season, the incident follows miles of beautiful beaches, persuaded tourists from frequenting the area and cause joint economic loss to the region seafood industry. maybe a show mr. chairman to photographs that give a feel for our area from the alabama gulf coast. we were really hammered in the tourist industry. can you about a? this is the condition of the beaches -- public beaches where people live

so we are independent of nrda. the objectives are to study the impact of the dispersed oil and the ecosystem of the gulf of mexico and affected the gulf states. in a very broad context the fundamental understanding of the dynamics of these events associated environmental stresses and public health implications the gri will support the development of improved oil spill litigation, oil and gas detection characterization and remediation technologies. ultimately the goal is to improve the society's ability to understand and respond to even this like this and to understand the effect on the coastal ecosystem with an emphasis on the gulf of mexico. we have established and are implementing peery viewed competitive grant programs that will support research that advance this understanding in five areas. first, physical distribution, dispersion and delusion of petroleum of constituents and associated contaminants such as disbursements under the action of physical ocean a granite process and tropical storms. second, the chemi

fundamental question on the nrda process. to what extent do you consider it, and the trustees, to what extent you consider that the process to make the region entirely whole? or is it just a part of a? >> it's just a part unfortunately. it addresses only the damages to our natural resources, and that's its limit. and, unfortunately, the damages that alabama has sustained, for example, are much greater than that. though many of the damages with sustained are tied to the loss of our natural resources and the loss of use of our natural resources, the nrda process does address those economic losses for individuals, businesses or the state itself. >> well, i know governor made this was very clear on that in his report, which is really getting i suppose more with the oil spill act damages that eventually have to be paid by bp under the oil spill act. but he noted on this section outlines a proposal for congress to create a new gulf coast recovery council that would be funded in part by civil penalties collected under the act, and w