Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)
A Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) is a legal process under the Oil Pollution Act that authorizes certain federal agencies, states, and Indian tribes—collectively known as natural resource trustees—to evaluate the impacts of oil spills, ship groundings, and hazardous substance releases on natural resources. The trustees are responsible for studying the effects of the spill through a process known as Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA). A representative from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection serves as the trustee for Florida.
Under NRDA, scientists work together to identify potential injuries to natural resources and lost public uses resulting from the spill.
The trustees use the NRDA process to:
· Assess natural resource injuries and lost services caused by an oil spill.
· Determine the appropriate type and amount of restoration needed to compensate the public for these impacts.
· Ensure that responsible parties implement or fund the appropriate restoration activities to compensate the public.
In this instance, BP is the responsible party for funding restoration projects.
Over the last several months, FAC has been facilitating meetings and conference calls between the affected counties and the Florida Department of Environmental to help counties develop potential NRDA projects. An initial list of these proposals can be viewed by going to DEP’s website.
Early Restoration
Under an unprecedented agreement, BP has committed to provide $1 billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to address injuries to natural resources caused by the spill. The Trustees involved are: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
This early restoration agreement, the largest of its kind ever reached, represents a first step toward fulfilling BP’s obligation to fund the complete restoration of injured public resources, including the loss of use of those resources by the people living, working and visiting the area. The Trustees will use the money to fund projects such as the rebuilding of coastal marshes, replenishment of damaged beaches, conservation of sensitive areas for ocean habitat for injured wildlife, and restoration of barrier islands and wetlands that provide natural protection from storms.
The agreement in no way affects the ultimate liability of BP or any other entity for natural resource damages or other liabilities, but provides an opportunity to help restoration get started sooner. The selection of early restoration projects will follow a public process, and will be overseen by the Trustees.
Of the $1 billion, an effort is underway to commit the first $500 million by October of this year, with Florida’s 8 impacted counties being eligible to receive an initial $100 million. The balance of the funds are for other projects initiated by other agencies (i.e., Water Management Districts, Federal Agencies) that benefit these areas. In some instances, projects proposed by other entities may overlap with local projects or perhaps conflict with local priorities. Again, FAC is helping to facilitate this process by hosting conference calls and meetings to ensure counties are proposing projects that meet the NRDA criteria, while talking with other applicants to ensure their initiatives are known by county officials.
To view a list of some of the federal proposals under consideration, please visit the following site:
NOAA Gulf Coast Restoration Projects.
RESTORE Act
The RESTORE Gulf Coast Act of 2012.pdf
RESTORE comparison.pdf
Deepwater Horizon
In an effort to provide counties with information that is as up to date as possible regarding the status and response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, we are posting links to the agencies involved in the response effort and other information that will be valuable to our efforts. Please check back regularly for updated information.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Staff Report - The BP Oil Spill Recovery Effort: The Legacy of Choices Made by the Obama Administration
FAC, League of Cities, & Florida School Boards Association Joint Oil Spill Task Force Recommendations
Click here for FAC’s Position on Deepwater Response Activities
In this section:
Videos |
Conference Calls |
FAC Weekly Updates |
Florida Deepwater Response Updates |
NOAA Trajectory Forecast
Websites |
Documents |
Florida Response Numbers |
Survey
Florida County Legal Issues Arising from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it became clear that many new and unique legal issues would arise for Florida's counties. Accordingly, FAC organized a group of county attorneys into the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legal Task Force. Click here to be directed to the Task Force page.
Gulf Coast Recovery Summit
On Wednesday, September 15, 2010 the Florida Association of Counties is coordinating a Gulf Coast Economic Recovery Summit to discuss the recovery of Northwest Florida from the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill.
A summary of the summit was compiled by Gulf Coast Community College and can be found by clicking here.
The event included the following topics and speakers:
PowerPoints by are available by clicking the links associated with each speaker.
I. Plans Being Developed
Economic Outlook
Dr. Rick Harper
University of West Florida
Governors Economic Recovery Task Force
Chris Hart
Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development
BP Gulf Coast Recovery Organization
Ray Dempsey, Vice President
US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Edward Smith
II. Local and State officials will also speak to the following topics during the afternoon session:
The meeting will allow local community leaders to hear from state and regional experts in an effort to develop individual and comprehensive plans as they recovery from this tragic environmental disaster.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central
Emerald Coast Conference Center
1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
In addition the meeting will be covered by the Florida Channel and can be viewed here: http://www.wfsu.org/tfc/
A complete agenda can be viewed by clicking here.
Videos
Click here to view an archive of videos related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Conference Calls
EOC Daily Briefings
10:00 AM EST / Daily
Passcode: 77775555
Click here for webinar log in
|
FAC Weekly Updates
2:00 PM EST / Each Wednesday
Passcode: 7645102 |
FAC Weekly Updates
Update #11: August 25, 2010
Update #10: August 4, 2010
Update #9: July 28, 2010
Update #8: July 21, 2010
Update #7: July 14, 2010
Update #6: June 23, 2010 Update #5: June 16, 2010
Update #4: June 9, 2010 Update #3: June 2, 2010
Update #2: May 19, 2010 Update #1: May 12, 2010
Florida Deepwater Response Updates
State Watch Office Oil Impact Reports
STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TRANSITIONS TO MONITORING STATUS FOR THE DEEPWATER HORIZON EVENT
For Florida Deepwater News History click here
NOAA Trajectory Forecast
The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small
amounts of oil offshore, the absence of recent observations
confirming significant amounts of oil in offshore areas, and the
large separation between the loop current complex and the oil
slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Guide to NOAA Trajectory Maps
NOAA Trajectory Maps Presentation
As of August 23, 2010 Trajectory Maps are no longer being produced.
Trajectory Map Archive
Websites
Florida Department of Emergency Management
Florida DEM Daily Blog
Deepwater Horizon Unified Command
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
NOAA Deepwater Horizon
Documents
Executive Order 10-191, August 26,2010
Executive Order 10-169 July 21, 2010
Governor Christ's Letter to Doug Suttles, BP July, 2 2010
Governors Executive Order 10-132 June 18, 2010
Second Ammended - DEP Final Order June 18, 2010
Emergency Closure of State Waters of the Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill June 13, 2010
BP Government Entity Claims Process Guidelines
AMENDED - DEP Final Order June 10, 2010 Department of Justice Memo RE: Retention of Documents
Suwannee River Water Management District Order 10-01
Executive Order 10-115
Executive Order 10-106
BP Remediation Plan: 5/8/10
Executive Order 10-99.pdf
Executive Order 10-100.pdf
Executive Order 10-101.pdf
Executive Order Number 10-106
Deepwater Horizon Legal Advisory Council Comments 6 15 10.pdf
Joint Economic Recovery Workgroup Mission Statement.pdf
Gulf Coast Recovery Summit_Agenda.pdf
Materials for Meeting with Governor Scott
Information for Local Governments Seeking Reimbursement for Damages
Special Project Table of Revenue Sources
Florida Response Numbers
| Information |
Contact Number(s) |
| Florida Response Numbers |
| Florida Oil Spill Information Line |
|
| Attorney General Fraud Hotline for Price Gouging |
|
| Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Price Gouging Hotline |
(800) HELP-FLA
(800) 435-7352 |
| Seabirds and shorebirds are protected by law. Report anyone harming or harassing these birds or nest disturbances to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
888 404-FWCC (3922) |
| Florida State Parks Camping or Cabin Reservations |
(850) 245-2157 |
| Florida Department of Financial Services Small Business Assistance Hotline. |
(850) 413-3089
or toll-free at (877) 693-5236 |
| Business Owner Insurance Coverage Hotline |
(850) 413-3100
or toll free (800) 342-2762
TDD: (850) 410-9700 |
| BP Issued Response Numbers |
| BP’s community information line and volunteer line |
(866) 448-5816 |
| To report tarballs or other evidence of oil on Florida’s coastline call the Rapid Response Team |
(866) 448-5816 |
| Report oiled wildlife |
(866) 557-1401 |
| To file a claim with BP |
(800) 440-0858 |
| Report injured or oiled animals to the Wildlife Distress Hotline |
(866) 557-1401 |
| Fishermen who wish to contact BP |
(800) 440-0858 |
| To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor, or submit information on alternative response technology, services, products, vessels of opportunities, or suggestions |
(281) 366-5511 |
| Claims |
(800) 440-0858 |
| Investor Relations |
(281) 366-3123 |
| Transocean Hotline |
(832) 587-8554 |
| MI Swaco Hotline |
(888) 318-6765 |
| BP family and third-party contractor hotline |
(281) 366-5578 |
Survey
Oil Spill Impact Survey