Congressional Event Celebrates 30 Years of Restoration after Pollution
JULY 19, 2021 ─ The week of July 12, OR&R led a Congressional briefing highlighting 30 years of NOAA’s Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program’s (DARRP) work restoring the environment after marine pollution. Attendees learned about how NOAA has recovered $10.5 B from polluters through settlements and heard from restoration partners how those funds are being leveraged to benefit ecosystems, communities, and economies across the country.
OR&R director, Scott Lundgren, opened the briefing and spoke about the DARRP mission and our role as scientific leaders helping to hold polluters accountable for restoration. Chris Doley, Chief of NOAA’s Habitat Restoration Division, provided examples of resources restored by DARRP and introduced two local partners. Mark Rasmussen, President of Buzzards Bay Coalition, shared examples of habitats improved after oil and waste site pollution in coastal Massachusetts and Steve Dubiel, Executive Director of EarthCorps until very recently, recounted stories of people and waterways benefiting from DARRP partnerships in Washington State.
Overall, the briefing was an opportunity for all involved to reflect on accomplishments over the past 30 years and look towards the future, how the DARRP will continue to use cutting-edge science to adapt to emerging pollution threats, foster resilience and best restore coastal communities.
View the presentations here. Learn more about DARRP’s work in your state in our new ArcGIS Story Map.
For more information please contact Tom.Brosnan@noaa.gov.