Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group Releases First Draft Restoration Plan

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The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group has released its first draft restoration plan. The plan addresses some of the natural resource injuries from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Mississippi Restoration Area.

The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group Draft 2016-2017 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (EA) (PDF, 308 pages) evaluates alternatives and proposes three projects:

  • Wetlands, Coastal, Nearshore Habitat/Birds restoration type
    • Graveline Bay Land Acquisition and Management;
    • Grand Bay Land Acquisition and Habitat Management
  • Nutrient Reduction (Nonpoint Source) restoration type
    • Upper Pascagoula River Water Quality Enhancement

The total estimated cost for the proposed restoration projects is $21.5 million. Details on the proposed projects and the environmental analysis are contained in the draft restoration plan and EA. The plan is consistent with the Trustees’ programmatic restoration plan

This restoration planning effort began in May 2016, when we requested project ideas from the public. We considered these ideas when identifying and screening project proposals. We presented the framework for this plan during our annual meeting on November 15, 2016.

We are now asking for public comment on the draft restoration plan. Comments can be made online or submitted by mail to:

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 49567
Atlanta, GA 30345

Comments are due by February 10, 2017. After the public comment period ends, we will review, consider, and address public comments before releasing a final restoration plan/EA.

Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment