When hazardous substances enter the environment, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources can be injured. The Departments of Interior and Commerce, along with state, tribal and other federal partners, act as “trustees” for these resources. Trustees seek to identify the natural resources injured and 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 (NRDAR) Program, the goal of which is to restore natural resources injured by contamination. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's primary responsibility at this time regarding the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill is to oversee the implementation of the NRDAR Program. The primary benefit of the NRDAR Program is that injured natural resources can be restored at no cost to the American taxpayers. Instead, the parties responsible for the injuries pay for the restoration. Because of this program, people across the country enjoy rivers and lands that are once again healthy and teeming with fish and wildlife, and public places that are safe for recreation and other uses. Through the dedication of state and federal agencies, as well as organizations and individuals committed to caring for the environment, we are making progress toward a cleaner, healthier environment for all living things. For a more detailed explaination on NRDAR, read our NRDAR 101 and NRDAR: How It Works fact sheets.
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Last updated:
June 3, 2011