The Florida Trustee Implementation Group is drafting its fourth post-settlement restoration plan and associated environmental analysis to address, in part, natural resource injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
We began this restoration planning effort in April 2026 by requesting project ideas from the public for the following Restoration Types in the Florida Restoration Area:
- Nutrient Reduction
- Water Quality
- Sea Turtles
- Birds
We greatly appreciate your input and have reviewed project ideas submitted in response to the request. The Florida Trustee Implementation Group has completed screening the project ideas and is now developing a draft restoration plan that will include projects or activities for all the restoration types listed above. The projects the Trustees will analyze in the draft restoration plan are those that best exemplify the restoration techniques identified in the request for project ideas.
The Florida Trustee Implementation Group expects to release a draft of Restoration Plan 4 in the first half of 2027. The public will then have an opportunity to review and provide input on the proposed restoration plan, including specific projects. After the public comment period ends for Draft Restoration Plan 4, the Trustees will review, consider, and incorporate public comments as appropriate before completing and releasing a final restoration plan.
The Trustees will ensure any development of Draft Restoration Plan 4 is consistent with the Trustee Council’s Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan, the Oil Pollution Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and all other applicable laws.
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