Public Invited to Comment on Gulf Restoration Projects

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees released a draft plan that proposes $627 million in early restoration projects across the Gulf states. The Draft Programmatic and Phase III Early Restoration Plan and Draft Early Restoration Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement is available for public review and comment through Feb. 4, 2014.

This marks the third and largest phase of early restoration to date. Included in the draft are 44 proposed projects. Some aim to restore barrier islands, dunes, marshes, shorelines and oyster beds. Others, such as boat ramps and park enhancements, seek to address the lost recreational use of natural resources

The draft also proposes a programmatic plan for continuing to pursue early restoration. The draft includes the programmatic plan and the complete list of proposed projects, with locations and descriptions.

Of the $627 million, ecological projects comprise about $397 million, which is approximately 63% of the total. Lost recreational use projects make up the remaining $230 million. Both approaches meet criteria under the Oil Pollution Act and other applicable laws and guidelines.

The draft's release opens a 60-day public comment period. The comment period will include 10 public meetings held across the Gulf states. All meetings will begin with an interactive open house during which trustee staff will be available to discuss project details. The open house will be followed by a formal presentation and opportunity to provide comments to trustee representatives. 

In addition to verbal comments at public meetings, the public may submit written comments online and by mail to:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 49567
Atlanta, GA 30345

Early restoration projects represent an initial step toward fulfilling the responsible parties' obligation to pay for restoration of injured natural resources. Ultimately, the responsible parties are obligated to compensate the public for the full scope of natural resource injuries caused by the spill, including the cost of assessment and restoration planning.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration