Trustees seek public comment on phase 4 of restoration projects after BP oil spill

The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees are seeking public comment on phase 4 of early restoration projects following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The projects are all designed to repair some of the damage done to natural resources due to the oil disaster.

The early restoration plan outlines 10 projects across the Gulf States with a price tag of 134 million dollars.

They include two projects to enhance bird nesting habitat, four projects to improve nearshore and reef habitats and two projects to enhance recreational opportunities on federal lands.

None of the projects will specifically impact our area though there is one project to reduce sea turtle mortality and one project to restore pelagic fish which affects the entire Gulf Coast.

The plan does include the reworking of a project in Eastpoint that was approved during phase 3.

That project would allow for the construction of a restroom at the Eastpoint fishing pier.

When it was initially released, the project included a holding tank that would have to be pumped out, but now the project has been modified so the restroom would include a 50 gallon holding tank and grinder pump system which will be connected to the existing sewer line about 2/3 of a mile away.

The project would require running sewer alongside Highway 300 and Patton drive.

Public Comment on the projects will be accepted through June the 19^th – you can find the plan on-line at gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/

You can also find the over 1000 page document at the Eastpoint branch of the Franklin County Public Library.

http://live.oysterradio.com/