Gulf Gets More Restoration Projects From BP Fund

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell says coastal resiliency is important to President Barack Obama's climate action plan.

Jewell was at a national park outside New Orleans Friday to describe the latest round of efforts to help the Gulf Coast recover from the 2010 BP oil spill.

Money for the 44 projects is coming from a $1 billion fund BP created in 2011.

Of the projects, 16 have been added in Florida since a preliminary announcement last spring. The new projects raise Florida's total fund allocation from about $73 million to more than $105 million, and boost the Gulf-wide total to $627 million.

More than $300 million will remain in the fund once final approval is granted to the new projects.