The golden-cheeked warbler has been considered endangered since 1990. Scientific research and conservation work on Ft. Hood has improved its lot. USFWS photo.
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November is Manatee Awareness Month; but no matter what time of year it is, manatees deserve to be celebrated. These amazing creatures fulfill a unique niche by serving as indicator species for ecosystems across the United States. Because of their reliance on the health of their habitat, manatees often act as a signal of their environment’s well-being. NOAA photo by Michael Buchanan.
Spring is coming early in 3/4 of national parks, according to a new study. Awesome? Not so much. As flowers bloom earlier every year, it’s disrupting the link between the wildflowers and the arrival of birds, bees, and butterflies that feed on and pollinate the flowers. In Shenandoah, an earlier spring is giving invasive plants a head start, and they’re displacing native wildflowers, leading to costly management issues.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the first national monument to preserve the landscape and honor the history and culture of Maine’s North Woods. Photo courtesy of Scot Miller.
Before the 1960s almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) person was illegal. New York City laws against homosexual activities were particularly harsh. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for LGBT civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.
Deepwater Horizon
The April 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
The Department of the Interior is playing a major role in many restoration efforts. Two of our largest endeavors are the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (DWH NRDA) and RESTORE Act implementation.
The DWH NRDA, conducted by the Trustee Council, has determined the nature and extent of injury to our nation’s natural resources caused by the spill, and the kind and amount of restoration needed to restore the Gulf to the condition it would be in if the spill had not occurred.
On April 4, 2016, District Judge Carl Barbier approved a historic $20.8 billion global settlement agreement with BP, the party he ruled was primarily responsible for the oil spill. According to the settlement, BP will pay the Trustees up to $8.8 billion for restoration to address injuries to natural resources. These funds will be used to implement the Trustees' Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The plan and associated documents are posted on the Trustees' web site.
The settlement also includes $5.5 billion in Clean Water Act penalities. As required by the RESTORE Act, 80% of those funds will be directed to Gulf restoration as determined by the RESTORE Council members. More information about the RESTORE Council can be found at the Council's website.
Additional information can be found at the links below:
- More about the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment
- NRDA Phase V Early Restoration Plan
- NRDA Phase IV Early Restoration Plan
- Wildlife Collection Reports
- Approved Assessment Plans and Studies
IN THE NEWS: Deepwater Horizon NRDA Marine Samples From USFWS and NOAA Now Available
