The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group has released its Draft Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment (PDF, 508 pages). The restoration activities proposed in this draft plan are consistent with the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan, and will compensate the public for natural resource injuries in Alabama caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We're asking for public comment until May 7.
Project Alternatives
The Draft Restoration Plan II evaluates 26 project alternatives, plus the no action alternative for each restoration type, and proposes 22 projects for funding. These project alternatives will:
- Help restore and benefit wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats; including some on federally managed lands.
- Improve water quality by reducing non-point source pollution to increase the overall health and productivity of these ecosystems.
- Help restore sea turtles, marine mammals, birds and oysters.
The alternatives proposed for funding in the plan have a total estimated cost of $35 million.
The Alabama Trustees are proposing this restoration plan and associated projects as part of a comprehensive approach to best address the injuries resulting from Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Public Engagement, Comment Period and Meeting
To engage the public in our restoration planning efforts, in December 2016, we requested project ideas from the public for projects that could restore and conserve habitat, replenish and protect living coastal and marine resources, and restore water quality. We used project submissions received through that process, along with projects previously submitted during prior restoration planning processes, to develop the project alternatives in this draft restoration plan.
We are now asking for public comment on this draft restoration plan until May 7, 2018. We will hold a public meeting to present the plan and receive comments on April 18. The meeting will include an open house where Trustee representatives can answer questions:
- Date: April 18, 2018
- Location: 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Tensaw Theater, 31115 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527
- Time:
6:00 p.m. Open House
6:30 p.m. Public Meeting
Comments can also be submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/restorealabamaP2 or mailed to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 49567
Atlanta, GA 30345
Comments received by the May 7 deadline will be reviewed and considered in preparing the Final Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment in the future.
Read the Draft Restoration Plan (PDF, 508 pg) and its Appendices (PDF, 574 pg), and access the Federal Register Notice.