The Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) is a long-term legal process in which the trustees from each state, alongside other organizations with similar restoration goals,

work together to assess losses caused by the spill, evaluate injuries associated with cleanup efforts and implement restoration projects. Results will not be seen immediately and projects will be implemented over months, years and even decades.

As of June 17, 2013, 336 projects have been submitted to DEP and are included on List 1: Draft Restoration Projects in Florida. As of June 17, 2013, 230 projects are on List 2: Draft Early Restoration Projects, which represents a reduction of projects from List 1 that meet select criteria directly related to Early Restoration. Projects not on List 2 may still qualify for restoration related to the oil spill, but will not be considered for the Early Restoration funds. All lists are dynamic and are updated regularly.

To submit a project idea, fill out a project submittal form along with a supplemental form and submit to Jessica Kanes. Projects may also be submitted by visiting http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration/give-us-your-ideas/. Additional projects submitted for other states can be viewed on that site as well. View an update on NRDA projects.

Projects can be submitted to:

Jessica Kanes
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Environmental Specialist I
(850) 670-7707
Jessica.Kanes@dep.state.fl.us
Apalachicola NERR/FDEP
108 Island Drive
Eastpoint, FL 32328

Emergency Restoration

About

Oil impacts are surveyed and documented at Ft. Pickens.

Projects
As part of the ongoing NRDA process that has followed the Deepwater BP oil spill, federal and state partners have reached an agreement with BP to begin a new effort to restore submerged aquatic vegetation that was damaged by response vessels and activities. Part of this project is occurring in Florida. For more information visit: Restoration Begins on Underwater Grasses Damaged by Response to Deepwater BP Oil Spill

Early Restoration

About
Early restoration projects are those that can be implemented prior to the completion of the process where injuries to natural resources are known, ongoing or believed to have occurred. Early restoration projects are utilized when the trustees and those responsible for a spill can agree to initiate some restoration work without having to wait for the results of the NRDA and resolution of the claim. The decision to undertake early restoration does not mean that no other restoration will take place or that the responsible parties are absolved of liability. Because the early restoration is expected to compensate for only part of the injuries caused by the spill, additional restoration planning, implementation and monitoring will occur following the traditional NRDA restoration process. Project ideas can be submitted at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration/give-us-your-ideas/.

$1 Billion Agreement to Fund Early Gulf Coast Restoration Projects
Initial early restoration projects will be funded as a result of the unprecedented, Framework for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill agreement. Through this agreement BP has committed $1 billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf States.

The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Trustees announce the finalization of Phase I of the DWH Oil Spill Phase 1 Early Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (ERP/EA). This plan includes the Phase 1 NRDA projects, which will be a dune restoration project on Pensacola Beach and four boat ramp revitalization construction projects in Escambia County. The Phase 1 NRDA projects are expected to cost an estimated $5.7 million, including possible contingencies, of the $100 million dollars Florida will receive for early restoration projects. The dune project was completed November 2012 and boat ramps are in various stages of construction.

In late 2012 the Trustees announced a second round of early restoration projects focusing on protecting beach-nesting birds and sea turtles, whose habitats were injured by response activates resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The additional NRDA projects include two projects; the first focusing on restoring nesting habitats for beach nesting birds and the other project plans to reduce artificial lighting impacts on nesting habitat for sea turtles. These projects are expected to cost an estimated $6.3 million, of the $100 million dollars Florida will receive for early restoration projects. Both of the projects are planned to take place in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. The projects in this plan were addressed separately from other early restoration projects in order to derive more natural resource benefits by implementing them in time for the 2013 nesting season.

In May 2013 the Trustees announced their intention to propose an additional 28 early restoration projects totaling nearly $600 million along the Gulf Coast. Fourteen of the proposed projects, if approved, will be taking place in Florida with a total dollar amount estimated to be $73 million. The Trustees are in the process of developing details regarding their intent to move forward with planning and public involvement. Additional Federal Register notices will keep citizens informed about those decisions.

• Perdido Key Dune Restoration: Escambia County. The project would consist of planting 20 acres of appropriate dune vegetation (e.g., sea oats, panic grasses, cord grasses, sea purslane, and beach elder) approximately 40' seaward of the existing primary dune over a length of approximately 4 miles of frontage. The purpose would be to provide a buffer which would lead to enhanced dune habitats.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $600,000.
• Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline: Escambia County. By constructing breakwaters, this project would stabilize shorelines at Sanders Beach and Project Greenshores Site II areas within Pensacola Bay. The purpose would be to protect the embayment and create salt marsh habitat by reducing wave energy and providing substrate for oyster larvae, which would help restore benthic secondary productivity. Also included would be the creation of salt marsh habitat, which would help to restore important habitat for many species of fish and birds.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $11 million.
• Florida Bay Seagrass Recovery Project: Gulf, Franklin and Bay counties. This project would provide for the restoration of seagrass beds by stabilizing propeller scars over approximately two acres in three Aquatic Preserves within Alligator Harbor, St. Joseph Bay and St. Andrew Bay. Also included would be boater outreach educational information and Shallow Seagrass Area signage.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $2.7 million.
• Florida Cat Point Living Shoreline Project: Franklin County. By constructing a breakwater, this project would stabilize shoreline in St. George Sound. The purpose would be to protect the embayment and create salt marsh habitat by reducing wave energy and providing substrate for oyster larvae, which would help restore benthic secondary productivity. Also included would be the creation of salt marsh habitat, which would help to restore important habitat for many species of fish and birds.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $800,000.
• Florida Oyster Reef Restoration: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay and Franklin counties. This project would involve placing cultch material over approximately 210 acres for the settling of oyster larvae and oyster colonization in the Pensacola Bay system in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, the St. Andrew Bay system in Bay County, and in the Apalachicola Bay system in Franklin County.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $5.4 million.
• Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery/ Enhancement Center: Escambia County. This project would provide for the construction and operation of a saltwater sportfish hatchery. Lost recreational fishing opportunities would be restored by providing hatchery production and eventual release of sportfish species such as red snapper, red drum, and spotted seatrout.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $20 million.
• Scallop Enhancement for Increased Recreational Fishing Opportunity in the Florida Panhandle: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties. This project would enhance naturally occurring bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) populations in Florida’s panhandle bays to support expanded recreational fishing opportunities.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $3 million.
• Big Lagoon State Park Boat Ramp Improvement: Escambia County. This project would include adding a lane to the boat ramp, expanding boat trailer parking, improving traffic circulation at the boat ramp and providing a new restroom facility. The purpose is to enhance visitors’ access to coastal natural resources and help restore lost recreational opportunities.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $1.5 million.
• Bob Sikes Pier Restoration: Escambia County. This project would improve access to and add amenities of the existing Bob Sikes Fishing Pier and parking area. Historically, the Bob Sikes fishing pier has provided an opportunity for the general public to access the Gulf of Mexico for fishing and sight-seeing.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $1 million.
• Florida Artificial Reef Creation and Restoration: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties. This project would provide for enhancement at different depths, both nearshore and offshore, of various permitted artificial reef areas off the western panhandle counties. The purpose is to restore lost recreational use through improved fishing and diving opportunities.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $11.4 million.
• Perdido Key Boardwalk Improvements: Escambia County. The project would replace the six boardwalks leading to the beach, thus restoring lost recreational use services by improving visitor access. The project includes two beach access areas with three boardwalks at each location.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $600,000.
• Shell Point Beach Nourishment: Wakulla County. The project would provide for beach nourishment to improve public recreational opportunities by placing approximately 15,000 cubic yards of dredged sand from an approved upland borrow area on about one mile of Shell Point Beach.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $880,000.
• Beach Enhancement Project at Gulf Island National Seashore: Escambia County. This project involves removing tens of thousands of cubic yards of asphalt fragments and road base material that has been scattered over hundreds of acres and approximately 11 miles of the Fort Pickens and the Santa Rosa areas of Gulf Island National Seashore. The purpose is to help restore lost recreational opportunities to the Gulf.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $11 million.
• Ferry Boat Access to Ft. Pickens, Gulf Island National Seashore: Escambia County. This project would provide for the purchase of two ferry boats for use in a new ferry service. The purpose is to help restore lost recreational opportunities by improving visitor access to the Gulf Island National Seashore.
• The estimated cost of this project is approximately $4 million.

The Trustees are working to move additional phases of early restoration forward. The selection process for future early restoration projects will proceed along the same lines as the first. After reaching preliminary agreement with BP on proposed projects, the trustees will seek public comments before finalizing any future plan.

Future projects must meet the following criteria to be eligible for early restoration funded by the Framework for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill agreement:

• project must be located in the eight county affected area;
• address a known, suspected or potential injury related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill;
• and meet the criteria of the Early Restoration Framework Agreement and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

View a slideshow of general information about the process and criteria for early restoration.