Trustees Announce Next Step in Restoration Efforts in the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Oiled brown pelican rescued from the Gulf of Mexico. Photo credit: FWS.

The Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have announced plans to develop a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) in cooperation with state co-trustees as part of the ongoing Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) for the BP Deepwater Horizon Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The first step of the process will be to conduct restoration project scoping which includes input from the public. Public scoping meetings will be held in each of the affected Gulf Coast states.

The public scoping process will identify concerns of the affected public and federal agencies, states, and Indian tribes, involve the public early in the decision making process, and define the issues and alternatives that will be examined in detail in the draft PEIS. The public will also be able to comment on the draft document once completed. Public comments for preliminary scoping of restoration options must be received by May 18, 2011.

DOI Press Release: http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Federal-Natural-Resource-Trustees-announce-next-step-in-BP-Deepwater-Horizon-spill-Gulf-restoration.cfm
Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/2011-3634.htm
Federal Register Notice PDF