The mission of the U.S. Department of the Interior's (Department) Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (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.

The Restoration Program assesses the damages and injuries to natural resources entrusted to the Department and negotiates legal settlements or takes other legal actions against the responsible parties for the spill or release.  Funds from these settlements are then used to restore the injured resources at no expense to the taxpayer.  Settlements often include the recovery of the costs incurred in assessing
the damages.  These funds are then used to fund further damage assessments.