The Florida Trustee Implementation Group is initiating our second post-settlement draft restoration plan to address, in part, natural resource injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In the upcoming draft restoration plan a range of projects will be considered for some or all of the restoration types listed below:
- Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands
- Birds
- Marine Mammals
- Sea Turtles
- Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities (Specifically, enhancing recreational fishing opportunities.)
The draft restoration plan will include proposed projects or activities for some or all of the restoration types listed above that best address the focus areas identified in our August 2019 request for project ideas.
The Florida Trustee Implementation Group greatly appreciates the submissions in response to our request for project ideas. We organized and screened over 2,160 submitted ideas based on the Trustee Council’s Programmatic Restoration Plan and the focus areas identified in the request for project ideas.
The draft restoration plan will be consistent with the Programmatic Restoration Plan and will provide information on proposed projects or activities and our evaluation of project alternatives under the Oil Pollution Act and National Environmental Policy Act.
We expect to release the draft restoration plan and environmental assessment either in late 2020 or in early 2021. The public will have the opportunity to review and provide comment on the draft plan and proposed projects. After the public comment period ends, we will review, consider, and incorporate public comments as appropriate before completing the final restoration plan.
Stay tuned to the Florida Restoration Area webpage or sign up for our Gulf Spill Restoration emails for future updates.