Athos I Oil Spill Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (DARP) Released

1. Athos I Oil Spill Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (DARP) Released _______________________ Frank Csulak Scientific Support Coordinator NOAA RRTIII Meeting Towson, Maryland Jan. 27-29, 2009 http://www.darp.noaa.gov/northeast/athos

2. DRAFT DARP • Trustees release the Draft DARP for public review on January 6, 2009 • Describes the injuries and proposed alternatives for restoring natural resources injuries and compensating public for recreational losses resulting from the November 25, 2004 oil spill • Comments of the Draft DARP must be submitted in writing no later than February 20, 2009

3. Funding of the Restoration Projects USCG determined that RP has exceeded its limit of liability under OPA. RP’s limit of liability is $47,474,000 ($1,200 per GT x 37,895 GT) Response costs estimated at $177,000,000 Nine proposed restoration projects expecting to total over $24 million Final DARP and NRDA claim will be submitted to the USCG’s OSLTF to obtain funding for implementation of restoration projects

4. Trustees State of New Jersey State of Pennsylvania State of Delaware US Fish and Wildlife Service NOAA Major Injury Categories Shoreline Birds and Wildlife Aquatic Resouces Recreational Activities MMajor Inj

5. Shorelines Surveyed 420 miles of shoreline 3,628 total acres oiled 1,729 acres of Delaware River shoreline 6 tributaries totaling 1,899 acres oiled

6. Birds Aerial and ground surveys (counts of birds by species and degree of oiling) Direct Injury (Dead) 3,308 Indirect Injury (LostProductivity) Mortality 6,453 Reproductive Failure 2,108 Total Injury 11,869

7. Aquatic Resources 412 acres of subtidal bottom sediments exposed to Athos oil based on sediment sampling and total PAH concentrations No measurable finfish, shellfish or crustacean injuries No significant water column losses

8. Recreation Losses Compiling historical data on recreational use and values Conducting interviews with boating, fishing, and hunting interests Estimated 41,709 trips affected with a estimated lost value of $1,313,239

9. Proposed Restoration Projects • Nine preferred restoration projects, expecting to total over $24 million, are intended to address injuries in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The projects include restoring approximately 300 acres of oyster, marsh, shoreline, wet meadow, grassland, and stream habitat;  three recreation projects; and four projects to remove stream obstructions restricting the migration of anadromous fish.

10. Habitat Restoration • Freshwater tidal wetlands restoration at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (Pa.) • Restore 7.0 acres of freshwater tidal wetland to benefit 56 acres within John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to compensate for tributary losses. This project would restore tidal exchange to the proposed site through tidal channels, shallow pools, and scrub/shrub wetland habitat. • Create oyster reefs (N.J., Del.) • Create roughly 78 acres of oyster reef in the Delaware River to compensate for injuries to aquatic resources, diving birds, and gulls. Oyster reefs enhance benthic communities, increase aquatic food for fish and birds, and improve water quality by filtering out sediments and pollutants from the water column. • Darby Creek dam removal and habitat restoration (Pa.) • Remove three dams and a remnant bridge pier from Darby Creek in southeastern Pennsylvania to open up an additional 2.6 miles of habitat to anadromous fish, and restore about 10 acres of riparian habitat along the creek edges. Dam removal and riparian habitat projects would compensate for tributary losses. • Habitat restoration at Mad Horse Creek (N.J.) • Restore 62.5 acres of degraded wetland and create 35 acres of wet meadow and 100 acres of grassland at state-owned property on Mad Horse Creek (N.J.). The proposed wetland restoration would compensate for non-tributary shoreline losses and a portion of the bird loss. The increase in upland vegetation (wet meadow and grassland habitat) would serve as food sources that can reasonably be expected to enhance bird biomass, thereby compensating for a portion of the total bird loss. • Shoreline restoration at Lardner’s Point (Pa.) • Restore shoreline through the demolition of existing structures, import of fill material, grading of a 0.9 acre site to restore tidal inundation, and creation of intertidal marsh and wet meadow habitat. This shoreline restoration project would have multiple benefits in the urban part of the river that was heavily impacted by the spill. • Blackbird Reserve Wildlife Area Pond and Pasture Enhancement (Del.) Excavate two shallow wetland ponds in former agricultural areas, convert 16 acres of agricultural lands to cool-season grass pasture, and establish approximately 24 acres of food plots by modifying existing agricultural practices. Conversion of existing agricultural land to pond and pasture habitat and modification of existing agricultural practices would provide resting and foraging areas targeted to migratory geese.

11. Improve recreational opportunities (Pa., N.J., Del.) • Implement three projects to address the estimated 41,709 river trips that were affected by the spill: • Improve the Stow Creek (N.J.) boat ramp • Construct an additional breakwater at Augustine Boat Ramp (Del.) to address ongoing shoaling immediately offshore of the boat ramp; and • Enhance the recreational trail on Little Tinicum Island (Pa.).

12. Summary of injuries resulting from the Athos incident and preferred restoration alternatives.COSTS ARE NOT FINAL

13. Next Steps • Public comment period ends February 20 • Trustees will address comments and finalize DARP • Claim submitted to NPFC • NPFC review – potential back and forth with Trustees • Settlement funds received and managed by Trustee Council • http://www.darp.noaa.gov/northeast/athos