About NRDA

A Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) is a scientific and legal process to determine natural resource damages and hold responsible parties accountable. Certain government agencies charged with trusteeship of natural resources act on behalf of the public with responsible parties to assess damages and implement restoration. In Texas, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas General Land Office (GLO), and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) act as state natural resource trustees. There are also federal agencies designated as trustees for natural resources, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of the Interior (DOI). For the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are also designated as trustees.

Federal law requires the responsible parties to compensate for the injury to natural resources caused by the DWH oil spill. In 2011, BP agreed to participate in an early restoration process up to a cost of $1 billion. In this process, early restoration projects are selected and implemented upon agreement between BP and the trustees, pursuant to an Early Restoration Framework Agreement and applicable laws and regulations.

For more complete information about the DWH NRDA: www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.

View a list of Texas early restoration projects.

The trustees continue to actively seek public input on restoration projects.

Information on review periods and timeframes associated with funding are posted on this website as it becomes available. Please check periodically for application-related announcements.