Patience Pays: The Quest for Restoration Projects To Compensate for Lost Use of Natural Resources for Public Recreation from the 1993 Tampa Bay Oil Spill1

Abstract

ABSTRACT The public's use of natural resources for recreation can be substantially disrupted by an oil spill. Following a 1999 settlement with parties responsible for the spill, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) (“the Trustees”), acting through a Trustee Council, finalized a restoration to offset recreational losses from the 1993 Tampa Bay oil spill. This paper describes the development of the restoration plan in cooperation with affected communities and the basis upon which specific restoration projects were chosen for inclusion in that plan, including the nexus between injured resources or lost resource services and the selected projects. The recreational restoration plan focused only on projects designed to acquire or enhance public access to natural resources for recreation. Projects selected for implementation include construction of fishing piers, public trails and walkways, enhancement of boating opportunities, and enhancement of natural resource amenities. Though the recreational projects were selected and funded by the Trustees with settlement funds, they are being implemented by the affected beach municipalities through a continuing and unique partnership with the Trustee Council.