Federal Advisory Committee Final Report

292 Pages·2008·17.31 MB·English

U.S. Department of the Interior
Natural Resource Damage
Assessment and Restoration
Federal Advisory Committee
Final Report to the Secretary
May 2007
Mission Statements
The mission of the U.S. Department of the Interior is to protect and provide
access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust
responsibilities to Indian Tribes and our commitments to island communities.
The mission of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Natural Resource
Damage Assessment and Restoration Program is to restore natural resources
injured as a result of oil spills or hazardous substance releases into the
environment. In partnership with other affected State, Tribal, and Federal
trustee agencies, damage assessments provide the basis for determining the
restoration needs that address the public's loss and use of these resources.
Cover Photoaraphs
From upper left, clockwise:
Crissy Field, San Francisco Bay Tidal Wetland Restoration, CA -National Park Service
Tubbs Island Salt Marsh Restoration, CA - U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Catclaw Sensitive Briar, one of many plant species affected by releases in various locations -
U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program Office
San Luis Obispo Creek Bank Stabilization, CA - Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
Butterfly, one of many types of insects affected by releases in various locations - Shannon Carlson
Great Blue Heron, one of many bird species affected by releases in various locations - Michael D. Phillips
Grizzly Bear, one of many terrestrial species affected by releases in various locations - Lee Carlson
U.S. Department of the lnterior
Natural Resource Damage
Assessment and Restoration
Federal Advisory Committee
Final Report to the Secretary
committee chartered by the
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
for the
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program
Washington, D.C.
prepared by the
Bureau of Reclamation
Technical Service Center
Denver, Colorado
May 2007

United States Department of the Interior
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Washington, DC 20240
JUL -2 ZOW
Tlx I Ionorable Dirk Ke111pthonle
Sccrctary of the Interior
U .S. Department or the Interior
i 849 C'. Stsect. N W
Washington, DC 20240
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I have the privilege of transmitting to you The Fillai Report of ille US.D epautltretzt oJrlle itrterior
Resotore Drrrncrge Assessme111c rrtd Hesrorc~tionF 'eci'etler-illA i[r~isorC~o*l t~rniiree.'T his
i\'llf~i~i
discretionary committee. chartered by the Department in ;May ZOO5 and conveneci ondcr [he Federal
.Advisory Committee Act. has worked diligently over the past 2 years to respond to the Department's
rcquest for ad~iceon how best to optimize natural resource damage assessment and restoration
activities.
The cnclosed Final Report represents the imanimous consensus of the Committee. The Committee
members took advantage of their diverse perspectives and experiences to develop and articulate a
multi-phase approach that the Department could iindertake to reduce case dispntes. estublisi~a n early
focus on cooperation and restoration during assessment activities, refine technical tools cui~cntlyin
use. and implement restoration nlore efficiently.
Tlic ('o~~un~ittt-cccco mnlends the Department expeditiously prioritize and beyin impleinentation of'11ic
rccoln~nendalioi~sB. uilding on the advances the Depdrtment and our co-trustecs ha\.c i~lrciltlym ade,
combined with the bcnrlit of the recommendations I am trans~~littint_ogd ay, the L)rpar\~ilc.i~s ~wte ll
positio~~etod continue its leadership role in making the Restoratioil Program a 111odc1 in restorcltion oT
iilj urcd na~tiralr esources in a more efficient and effective manner.
Sincerely,
Frank PI. DeLuisc
Designated Federal Offices
Natural Resource Damage Assessment
and Restoration Federal Advisory Committee

Message From Deputv Secretarv
Tkirty people representing government agencies, companies, universities,
It
environmental and other organizations are recommending improvements in
natural resource damage assessment and restoration. Reaching unanimous
consensus is a great achievement, especially in light of how contentious these
matters have often been in the past. This Federal Advisov Committee
exemplifies the spirit of Cooperative Conservation.
These recommendations are not the end of a process; they present a new
beginning. Now it is up to us in the US.D epartment of the Interior to build
upon these unanimous recommendations, strengthen our partnerships, and
continue restoring injured natural resources."
P. Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of the Interior
Groi~psR epresented on the
Federal Advisorv Committee
Federal Trustees
State Trustees
Tribal Trustees
Industrial Corporations
Industry Consultants
Private Law Firms
Local Environmental Groups
National Environmental Groups
Academic Institutions
(See Appendix C for Membership List)

Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Federal Advisory Committee.. Final Report
Table of Contents
- -
...........................................................................................................
Executive Summary 1
Overview .............................................................................................................................3
..........................................................................................................................
Introduction 3
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration ..............................................3
DOI's Authorities and Responsibilities ........................................................................3
.........................................................................
NRDAR Federal Advisory Committee 3
Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 4
Recommendations and Analysis ....................................................................................... 5
Introduction: The Four Questions ....................................................................................... 5
Question 1: Natural Resource Injury Determination and Quantification .................... 5
Question 2: Restoration Action Selection. ................................................................... 5
Question 3: Compensating for Public Losses Pending Restoration ............................ 5
Question 4: Timely and Effective Restoration After NRDAR Claims Are Resolved.5
The Four Questions: Background ......................................................................................6.
NRDAR Practice Evolution .......................................................................................... 6
Ohio v . DO1 .................................................................................................................. 6
Kennecott v . DO1 ..........................................................................................................6
.........................................................................................................
OPA Regulations -7
.....................................................................................
The CERCLA Reform Debate -7
CERCLA NRDAR Regulatory Review Issues .............................................................7
...........................................................................................
Cooperative Conservation -8
U.S. Department of the Interior i
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Federal Advisory Committee-Final Report
Consideration of the Four Questions ...............................................................................9
Question 1: Natural Resource Injury Determination and Quantification ...........................9
Background.. ................................................................................................................ .9
Recommendations... .................................................................................................... 10
Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 1 1
Question 2: Restoration Action Selection ......................................................................... 12
Background.. ............................................................................................................... 12
Recommendations... ................................................................................................... -12
Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 13
Question 3: Compensating for Public Losses Pending Restoration .................................. 14
Background. ................................................................................................................ 14
Recommendations... ................................................................................................... -14
Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 15
Question 4: Timely and Effective Restoration After NRDAR Claims Are Resolved... ... 16
Background.. .............................................................................................................. .16
Recommendations... .................................................................................................... I6
Analysis ....................................................................................................................-. 17
Implementation of Recommendations ...........................................................................1 9
Priorities and Timing ........................................................................................................ .I9
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 20
Glossary of Key Terms .................................................................................................. ..21
ii U.S. Department of the Interior