[StBernard] Agencies Implement Statewide Program for Restoring Natural Resources Injured by Oil Spills

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Wed Feb 28 19:21:11 EST 2007


Agencies Implement Statewide Program for Restoring Natural Resources Injured by Oil Spills


Baton Rouge, LA - The State of Louisiana and federal natural resource trustees have completed development of The Louisiana Regional Restoration Planning Program and the first of nine Regional Restoration Plans. The statewide program was developed to assist the trustees in carrying out their Natural Resource Damage Assessment responsibilities for discharges or substantial threats of discharges of oil.

NRDA is the mechanism by which the trustees pursue damages from responsible parties to compensate the public for injuries to natural resources resulting from oil spills.

The RRP Program aims to expedite and reduce the cost of the NRDA process and to increase restoration of trust resources and services. The program will include nine Regional Restoration Plans, which will identify existing, planned, or proposed restoration projects that may be implemented to address injured resources. Implementation of the RRP Program will allow the state to dramatically improve the coordination of restoration conducted through the NRDA process with on-going restoration efforts.

The trustees - which include the federal departments of Commerce and Interior and the state departments of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Wildlife and Fisheries along with the Oil Spill Coordinator's Office -- continue to solicit restoration projects for potential inclusion in the Regional Restoration Plans. Restoration projects will be included in the plans based on the RRP Program selection criteria.

Opportunities for public involvement will be provided throughout the development of the Regional Restoration Plans and implementation of the RRP Program.

The plan can be viewed at www.losco.state.la.us <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=3420&ID=dei%29ediCnTnU&redirect=http://www.losco.state.la.us> .


For more information, contact
Christina M. Swaye
Environmental Specialist
Oil Spill Coordinator's Office
(225) 219-5814
christina.swaye at la.gov

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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
www.louisianahelp.org




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