Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)

The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group to Hold its Annual Public Meeting April 18, 2018

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the members of the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) have released the Draft Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment  (PDF, 508 pages). The restoration activities proposed in this draft plan are consistent with the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan, and will partially compensate the public for natural resource injuries in Alabama caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The Draft Restoration Plan II evaluates 26 project alternatives, plus the no action alternative for each restoration type, and proposes 22 projects for funding. These project alternatives will:

  • Help restore and benefit wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats; including some on federally managed lands.
  • Improve water quality by reducing non-point source pollution to increase the overall health and productivity of watersheds in Coastal Alabama.
  • Help restore sea turtles, marine mammals, birds, and oysters.

The alternatives proposed for funding in the plan have a total estimated cost of $35 million.

The Alabama Trustees are proposing this restoration plan and associated projects as part of a comprehensive approach to best address the injuries resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

To engage the public in our restoration planning efforts, in December 2016 we requested project ideas from the public for projects that could restore and conserve habitat, replenish and protect living coastal and marine resources, and restore water quality. We used project submissions received through that process, along with projects previously submitted during prior restoration planning processes, to develop the project alternatives in this draft restoration plan.

We are now asking for public comment on this draft restoration plan until May 7, 2018.

In addition, the Alabama Trustees are pleased Governor Kay Ivey will offer welcoming remarks at a public meeting on Wednesday, April 18 where we will present the plan and receive comments. The meeting will also serve as the Alabama TIG Annual Meeting and will include an open house where TIG representatives can answer questions:

  • Date: April 18, 2018
  • Location: Five Rivers Tensaw Theater Spanish Fort, AL
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. Open House 6:30 p.m. Public Meeting

Comments can also be submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/restorealabamaP2 or mailed to:

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

Comments received by the May 7 deadline will be reviewed and considered in preparing the Final Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment.

The presentation slideshow can be found here.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting is asked to advise the Trustees at least five days before the meeting by calling Amy Hunter at (251) 621-1216.

 

 


Restoration Efforts