Early restoration projects
Early restoration projects are designed to accelerate efforts to restore natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico that were injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon accident
In 2012, work began on the initial set of early restoration projects identified through an agreement BP signed with state and federal trustees in April 2011. The trustees also approved two new early restoration projects in December 2012 following a public comment period. These projects are designed to improve nesting habitats for birds and loggerhead sea turtles on a number of Gulf Coast beaches.
Under the early restoration framework agreement, BP agreed to fund up to $1 billion in early restoration projects to accelerate efforts to restore natural resources injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon accident. The framework requires BP and the trustees to agree upon the potential projects, funding and the natural resources' benefits the projects are expected to provide. The trustees then implement the projects.
The agreement between BP and the trustees makes it possible for restoration to begin at an earlier stage of the NRD process than usual. NRD restoration projects are typically funded only after the NRD assessment is complete and a final settlement has been reached or a final court judgment has been entered. This process often takes many years, and restoration is often delayed during that time. The early restoration framework agreement allows the parties to expedite projects to restore, replace or acquire the equivalent of injured natural resources in the Gulf soon after an injury is identified, reducing the time needed to achieve restoration of those resources.
Projects under way
The eight initial early restoration projects that were initiated in 2012 are expected to cost approximately $60 million.
Alabama
- Alabama Dune Restoration Cooperative Project aims to restore and protect 55 acres of coastal sand dune habitat with native vegetation, protective fencing and informative signs.
- Alabama Marsh Island Restoration Project aims to protect 24 acres of existing salt marsh habitat and create 50 acres of additional salt marsh habitat in Portersville Bay.
Florida
- Florida Boat Ramp Enhancement and Construction Project aims to repair two existing public boat ramps and construct two new public boat ramps as well as visitor kiosks in Escambia County to improve access to the public for water and boating recreational activities.
- Florida (Pensacola Beach) Dune Restoration Project aims to plant approximately 475,000 native plants an average of 15 to 60 feet seaward of the existing primary dunes along an eight mile length of Pensacola Beach near the western end of Santa Rosa Island in Escambia County, Florida.
Louisiana
- Louisiana Lake Hermitage Marsh Projectaims to create 104 acres of marsh within the Barataria Hydrologic Basin in Plaquemines parish.
- Louisiana Oyster Cultch Project aims to provide 850 acres of productive oyster cultch habitat on public oyster seed grounds in six locations in coastal Louisiana and construction of an oyster hatchery facility.
Mississippi
- Mississippi Oyster Cultch Project aims to provide approximately 1,400 acres of productive oyster cultch habitat in Hancock County and Harrison County.
- Mississippi Artificial Reefs Project aims to add approximately 100 acres of near-shore artificial reefs to the 201-acre footprint of the existing reefs in the Mississippi Sound.
The trustees provide updated information on the projects through an interactive atlas.
Additional approved projects
The estimated cost of the projects approved by the trustees in December 2012 is $9 million.
- Enhanced Management of Avian Breeding Habitat Project is designed to reduce disturbances to important bird nesting habitats on approximately 1,800-2,300 acres of beaches in the Florida Panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi. The enhancements to the nesting habitats aim to reduce disturbances from human activity and predators and are expected to improve successful nesting, hatching and rearing of chicks.
- Restoring the Night Sky Project aims to improve the nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles by reducing the impact that artificial lighting has on hatchlings and nesting females. This project includes plans to retrofit existing streetlights and car park lights to reduce the amount of artificial light cast on Florida Panhandle and Alabama beaches.
Public participation
State and federal trustees held a series of public meetings in Washington DC and across the Gulf states in early 2012 to explain the NRDA process and solicit comments on the eight initial proposed projects, before approving them in April 2012. The comments received and the trustees’ responses were summarized in the final phase 1 early restoration plan. A similar process was conducted for the new bird and sea turtle nesting projects.
Proposals that have the potential to deliver the greatest benefits to wildlife, habitat and recreational use will receive priority.
Proposals that have the potential to deliver the greatest benefits to wildlife, habitat and recreational use will receive priority.
Attestation
The information on this page forms part of the information reviewed and reported on by Ernst & Young as part of BP's 2012 sustainability reporting.
Related link
BP's approach to managing the potential impacts of our operations on biodiversity
External site
Updates on restoration of Gulf Coast natural resources
