Zasoby i środowisko · 8.12.1994

Natural Resource Damage Assessments

The Department of the Interior is proposing to amend the regulations for assessing natural resource damages resulting from a discharge of oil into navigable waters under the Clean Water Act or a release of a hazardous substance under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The regulations provide procedures that designated Federal, State, and Indian tribe natural resource trustees may use to obtain compensation from potentially responsible parties for injuries to natural resources. The regulations provide an administrative process for conducting assessments as well as two types of technical procedures for the actual determination of injuries and damages. ``Type A'' procedures are standard procedures for simplified assessments requiring minimal field observation in cases of minor discharges or releases in certain environments. ``Type B'' procedures are site-specific procedures for detailed assessments in other cases. The Department of the Interior is proposing to revise the existing type A procedure for assessing natural resource damages in coastal and marine environments in compliance with a court order and a statutory biennial review requirement.