Environmental
Contaminants
NRDAR - The Natural Resource
Damage Assessment and Restoration Program in New England
When hazardous substances enter
the environment, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources
can be injured. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along
with other Department of the Interior, State, Tribal and
Federal partners, acts as “trustee” for these
resources. The Service has responsibility for National
Wildlife Refuges, endangered and threatened species, migratory
birds, interjurisdictional fish and other natural resources.
Trustees seek to identify the natural resources injured,
determine the extent of the injuries, recover damages
from those responsible, and plan and carry out natural
resource restoration activities. These efforts are possible
under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Program (Restoration Program), the goal of which is to
restore natural resources injured by contamination.
Program Activities
Restoration of natural resources adversely affected from
contamination in New England has focused on impacts associated
with 112 hazardous waste sites on the National Priorities
List as well as impacts associated with oil spills off
our coast. Since 1992, the New England Field Office has
collected monetary damages or received in-kind restoration
from natural resource settlements at 37 sites.
Program Benefits
As a result of these efforts and the partnerships that
they have generated, nearly 750 acres of upland and wetland
habitat in New England have been permanently protected
for wildlife. In addition, at least 125 pairs of loons
will be protected by conservation easements and fee purchases
on nearly 1.5 million acres within the state of Maine.
Nearly 350 acres of degraded saltmarsh habitat have been
restored as well as 16 acres of freshwater wetlands and
13 acres of adjacent uplands. Monitoring and management
programs have increased productivity of piping plover,
roseate terns and other species. Installation of fishways
has provided access to over 440 acres of spawning habitat
for shad and river herring. Restoration programs for shellfish,
sea ducks, eel grass and a number of other resources have
been implemented throughout New England. Recreational
improvements and educational kiosks have also been developed.
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