The trustees are embarking on an effort to restore many of the natural resources harmed by the release of DDTs and PCBs into Southern California ocean waters. Restoration activities may include projects to benefit injured natural resources such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons, and to create improved recreational and subsistence fishing opportunities that offset the impairment of fishing due to contamination in sports fish caught off the coast of Southern California.
Focus of Natural Resource Restoration
As required by Superfund law, the trustees must use the settlement moneys to restore natural resources harmed by the DDTs and PCBs at issue in the settlement agreements. In allocating these funds, the highest priority will go to projects that most directly and effectively restore the natural resources harmed by the DDTs and PCBs.
Initial Activities
Several activities have proceeded since the final legal settlement was finalized in 2001. The trustees have initiated efforts to develop a comprehensive restoration plan. In addition, the trustees have initiated a separate feasibility study/environmental assessment focused on bald eagle restoration. Also, studies are being undertaken to improve the understanding of fish contamination and fishing practices and preferences in Southern California —all in support of restoration plan development and implementation.
Comprehensive Restoration Plan
Because the restoration plan is being developed as a programmatic environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR), the trustees conducted formal scoping beginning on August 24, 2001, to help identify projects that will meet restoration goals. Several public meetings and workshops were held from 2001 to 2003; requests for restoration ideas were distributed to our mailing list and made available on this web site. (See Public Involvement.) Montrose Settlements Restoration Program (MSRP) is currently preparing a draft of the restoration plan and anticipates releasing it publicly in late 2004 or early 2005.
Feasibility study/environmental assessment (FS/EA) on the reestablishment of bald eagles to the Northern Channel Islands. The trustees released a draft FS/EA in 2002 proposing a 5-year study into the feasibility of reestablishing bald eagles on the Northern Channel Islands. Because PCBs and DDTs persist at levels that continue to cause reproductive problems in bald eagles inhabiting Catalina Island, the trustees are pursuing this study to determine whether bald eagles reintroduced to the Northern Channel Islands might have greater reproductive success than the Catalina birds. The results are not expected to be known until 2007 or later.
Fish contamination survey and angler survey. The trustees have also undertaken two fish-related investigations in support of restoration planning. These two studies have been conducted and funded jointly with the EPA.
- A fish contamination survey of contaminant levels in sport and commercial fish is being conducted to help trustees plan projects that will both create better fishing environments and inform the public about fish and fishing locations with low levels of contamination. A fact sheet about this study is available.
- A field intercept survey of boat and shore-based anglers in locations throughout Southern California was conducted during the most popular fishing months of 2002 and 2003. The data generated by this survey will allow MSRP to target restoration projects so they best fit the needs of anglers most affected by fish consumption advisories. A report describing the angler survey effort will be made available in July 2004.
