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Tug boats assist in the response to Bouchard Barge No. 120.
Tug boats assist in the response to Bouchard Barge No. 120.

Public Comment Sought for Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Restoration Planning Document

January 19, 2017

NOAA and its co-Trustee agencies addressing natural resource damages from the 2003 Bouchard Barge 120 oil spill are seeking input from the public on proposed projects to restore shoreline and aquatic resources in Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal waters affected by the spill. Three projects are proposed in a Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the 2014 Final Programmatic Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the B-120 Buzzards Bay restoration planning for natural resource injuries and lost public natural resource uses. The restoration projects include:

  • Round Hill salt marsh restoration through excavation of a filled coastal wetland and repositioning of an existing tidal marsh inlet channel in Dartmouth, MA;
  • Removal of the Horseshoe Pond dam to restore migratory fish runs, river and tidal wetlands in Wareham, MA; and
  • Installation of conservation boat moorings to restore eelgrass beds in various embayments in Buzzards Bay.

The Draft SEA analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative ecological and socioeconomic impacts associated with the proposed actions. The public is invited to provide comments on the plan through Feb. 20.  Written comments should be submitted to: Mr. James G. Turek, NOAA Restoration Center, 28 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882; or by e-mailing to: James.G.Turek@noaa.gov.

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