The Twin Cities Ecological Services Field Office successfully led the effort to unite natural resource trustees (Trustees) and the responsible parties in agreeing to collectively resolve environmental damages associated with the incident. On May 11, 2004, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Trustees (FWS, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa) and the Responsible Party (Enbridge Energy, Inc.) to initiate a cooperative effort to assess damages and identify restoration alternatives to effectively restore natural resources lost as a result of the incident, completing an important first phase in preparing for restoration.

This is the first such agreement to be completed in Minnesota and should alleviate what often becomes a highly contentious situation. Technical specialists from all parties will be working together over the summer to quantify natural resource damages, arrive at equitable restoration solutions and finalize a restoration plan for public review. Components of a restoration plan have already been agreed upon and a timeline to complete the planning process has been set for late 2004.

Authorizing Legislation: Oil Pollution Act of 1990, National Contingency Plan