Programmatic- Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Phase III Early Restoration Plan

The PDARP/PEIS considers programmatic alternatives, composed of Restoration Types, to restore natural resources, ecological services, and recreational use services injured or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident. The OPA natural resource damage assessment regulations guided the Trustees’ development and evaluation of programmatic restoration alternatives. The Final PDARP/PEIS also evaluates the environmental consequences of the restoration alternatives under NEPA. This document shows that the injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident affected such a wide array of linked resources over such an enormous area that the effects must be described as constituting an ecosystem-level injury. Consequently, the Trustees’ preferred alternative for a restoration plan employs a comprehensive, integrated ecosystem approach to best address these ecosystem-level injuries.