Natural resource trustees are in the process of determining the extent of injuries caused to Gulf of Mexico ecosystems by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) is designed to guide the assessment and quantification of impacts to natural resources, and the development and implementation of restoration efforts. The full extent of liability will be determined through a legal process that could take years, but on April 21, 2011, the natural resource trustees announced that BP had agreed to provide $1 billion in funding for "early restoration" to address injuries on an accelerated timeline. Because early restoration is not a legally defined or structured process, many components of the process and agreement are novel.
This seminar brought together experts to discuss what early restoration is, how it fits within the broader NRDA process, and the framework agreement and process.
PANELISTS:
- John C. Cruden, President, Environmental Law Institute
- Brian D. Israel, Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP; Lead Outside Counsel for BP, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment
- Dr. Johanna Polsenberg, Federal Representative, Gulf Restoration Network (biography in "Seminar Summary")
MODERATOR:
- Jordan Diamond, Deputy Director, Ocean Program, Environmental Law Institute
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
- Presentation - John C. Cruden, PowerPoint
- Presentation - Brian D. Israel, PowerPoint
- Presentation - Dr. Johanna Polsenberg, PowerPoint
- Add'l Materials - Early Restoration Agreement (April 21, 2011)
- Add'l Materials - Gulf of Mexico NRDA: Year One Report (BP)
- Add'l Materials - Community Prioritization Guidelines (GRN)
- Audio Recording (mp3)
- Seminar Summary
The 2011 Ocean Seminar Series is generously supported by the
Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation.
Click Here for more information on ELI's Ocean Seminar Series.