The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group has approved an addendum (PDF, 3 pages) to its Final Restoration Plan III and Environmental Assessment: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities; and Birds. Restoration Plan III includes a suite of projects under the Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities Restoration Type, including two conditionally approved projects — Perdido Beach Public Access Coastal Protection and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Recreation Enhancement-Mobile St. Boardwalk.
The restoration plan noted that implementation of these projects was dependent upon the availability of additional funding. Additional funding within a restoration type may become available in a variety of ways, such as projects coming in under budget, or modifications to and cancellation of projects. Earned interest from the Deepwater Horizon settlement funds is also available to the Alabama Restoration Area Trustees.
In the addendum, the trustees set out their decision to allocate $1.6 million of earned interest to increase funding for the Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities Restoration Type, allowing for the implementation of the Perdido and Bon Secour projects. This will provide additional compensation to the public for recreational use injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon spill.
- Final Addendum to Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan III and Environmental Assessment (PDF, 3 pages)
The public comment period on the draft addendum closed on December 23, 2020. Only one comment was received and it was in support of the addendum.