For the DuPont Newport Superfund Site, the natural resource damages were compensated through restoration actions taken in coordination with the remedy at the Superfund site and also at a 56 acre property 55 miles downstream.

On-site Restoration: on-site restoration consisted of restoration and enhancement of the tidal wetlands at the DuPont Newport Superfund Site.

The North Wetlands (at the Superfund Site) remediation and restoration consisted of the following basic components that were not part of the Record of Decision (ROD) requirements:

• Stabilization of the river berm,
• Shoreline erosion protection,
• Sediment excavation to a greater depth and backfilling,
• Construction of a water control structure,
• Sediment stabilization with erosion matting, and
• Phragmites control program.

The South Wetlands (at the Superfund Site) remediation and restoration were similar to that of the North Wetlands in that Dupont proactively included the following basic components that were above and beyond the ROD requirements in an attempt to optimize functions and values that could be provided by the restoration site:

• Stabilization of the river berm,
• Shoreline erosion protection,
• Sediment excavation to a greater depth and backfilling,
• Construction of a water control structure,
• Sediment stabilization with erosion matting, and
• Phragmites control program.

Per the consent decree, these on-site restoration actions improved drainageway habitat, increased the amount of open water at high tide, improved water quality, and provided better forage and cover for fish and wildlife in the North and South Wetlands. The trustees determined that these restoration measures improved these wetlands beyond their baseline condition. The trustees quantified these restoration measures in the DARRP and credited DuPont accordingly for restoring injured natural resources in the Assessment Area.

Off-site Restoration: In order to fully compensate the public for the lost use of natural resources at the DuPont Newport site, between the time of the release and the time they were restored, DuPont agreed to fund additional off-site restoration. A Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment was completed in 2006. The trustees used funds from the consent decree to protect and restore a 56-acre property (the Pike Property) located along the Mispillion River in the Delaware River watershed (by the Kent and Sussex Counties line, approximately 55 miles down Delaware Bay from the Christina River). Natural resources such as blue crab, Atlantic Herring, spot and striped bass use the entire Delaware Estuary and its tidal rivers (e.g., the Christina and Mispillion rivers) for spawning, nursery and foraging habitat. The Pike Property was approriate to compensate the public for interim losses of natural resources at the DuPont Newport site.

The Pike Property will be protected in perpetuity by an environmental covenant purchased by DuPont and held by the State of Delaware. Restoration activities began in 2007 and were completed in 2008.

The restoration project will reduce erosion and stabilize over 2,200 feet of shoreline by placing natural-fiber logs at the water's edge and by planting native Spartina grass in the sediment.

In the tidal marsh area, channels were cut to create shallow pools, improving tidal flushing and increasing salinity, which will control invasive Phragmites grass. Phragmites root maps were broken up using a "cookie cutter" dredge head and native Spartina grass were planted to improve the value of wetland resources to wildlife.

Phragmites were further controlled through excavation and removal by herbicidal spraying. The original plan to introduce Native plants to the channel edge was eliminated due to the vigorous growth demonstrated by naturally re-colonizing plants.