$6.3 million approved for restoration projects

Florida Department of Environmental Protection, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, announced on Nov. 8 that the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees approved two proposed projects for Florida totaling more than $6.3 million.

Of Florida’s 770 miles of coastline, more than 170 miles experienced oil and response impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This set of proposed projects focus on restoring nesting habitat for birds and sea turtles, which was injured during response efforts resulting from the spill. These projects will be finalized upon completion of the public comment period.  

In Florida, both of the proposed projects are planned to take place in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. The projects in this plan are being 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.

The Trustees will hold a public meeting to solicit public comment on DERP/ER at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Escambia County Central Complex Building.

Visit www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov to view the DERP/EA, access public meeting information, to view additional details of the proposed early restoration projects, and ways to submit public comment. Public comment will be accepted until Dec. 10.

For more information on the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process and projects being submitted visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon. 

For the complete story, see the Nov. 15 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.