The Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (Trustees) and BP have identified approximately $134 million in ten projects to be included in the next proposed phase of early restoration.
This milestone comes five years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The 10 proposed projects would benefit sea turtles, birds and fish; increase recreational opportunities; and improve nearshore and reef habitats. The proposed projects and estimated costs are:
– Osprey Restoration in Coastal Alabama – Baldwin and Mobile Counties, Alabama ($45,000); – Point aux Pins Living Shoreline – Mobile County, Alabama ($2,300,000); – Shell Belt and Coden Belt Roads Living Shoreline – Mobile County, Alabama ($8,050,000); – Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Trail Enhancement – Alabama ($545,110); – Seagrass Recovery at Gulf Islands National Seashore – Florida District ($136,700); – Bike and Pedestrian Use Enhancements at Davis Bayou, Gulf Islands National Seashore – Mississippi District ($6,967,000); – Restoring Living Shorelines and Reefs in Mississippi Estuaries – coastal Mississippi ($30,000,000); – Texas Bird Rookery Islands– Galveston Bay and East Matagorda Bay, Texas ($20,603,770); – Sea Turtle Early Restoration – Gulf of Mexico ($45,000,000); – Pelagic Longline Bycatch Reduction – Gulf of Mexico ($20,000,000).
Early restoration allows the Trustees to jump-start restoration using up to $1 billion BP has agreed to make available for projects jointly agreed to by BP and the Trustees. In return, BP’s liability is reduced.
The Trustees anticipate including these 10 projects in a draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan. Thus far, the Trustees have approved three phases of early restoration, with a combined total of 54 projects and an estimated cost of $698 million.
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