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 Natural
Resource Restoration About
NRR
Program Overview
Natural Resource Restoration
Restoration: is the remedial action that returns the
natural resources to pre-discharge conditions. It includes the rehabilitation
of injured resources, replacement, or acquisition of natural resources
and their services, which were lost or impaired. Restoration also includes
compensation for the natural resource services lost from the beginning
of the injury through to the full recovery of the resource.
Examples are:
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GROUND WATER: non-point source pollution abatement projects, acquisition
of land for aquifer recharge
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WETLANDS and HABITAT: rehabilitation or creation of wetlands /
habitat in the appropriate ratios to compensate for the functions
and services lost
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INJURED SPECIES: restoration of appropriate habitat and monitoring
of success / research projects
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LOST PUBLIC USE: enhanced public access, information and interpretive
centers
Program Administration
Natural Resource Restoration is administered by the
Office of Natural Resource Restoration (ONRR), which was established
in the early 1990s to restore for environmental injury caused by multiple
oil spills and discharges. The authority for addressing injuries
to the public’s natural resources
is derived from the Public Trust Doctrine. This common law provides
that public lands, waters and living resources are held in trust by
the government for the benefit of its citizens. In New Jersey, the Commissioner
of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the designated
“trustee” charged with administering
and protecting the State’s natural resources.
Overall natural resource restoration process
When contaminants, such as oil and other hazardous
substances are released into the environment, wildlife, habitat, and
other public natural resources may be injured or lost. The following
steps outline the restoration process:
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ONRR ensures that natural resource injuries resulting from a pollutant
discharge are accurately characterized.
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Using information generated pursuant to the Technical
Requirements for Site Remediation and other investigation documents,
ONRR coordinates with those responsible for the injuries to ensure
that an appropriate restoration project is implemented to compensate
the public for the loss and enjoyment of the natural resource.
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ONRR coordinates restoration activities with a variety of NJDEP
programs, such as the Site
Remediation Program, Division
of Fish &Wildlife, and the Green
Acres Program. ONRR also has restoration partnerships with environmental
organizations, and solicits input from environmental and local community
groups with special resource expertise and knowledge of the restoration
area.
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ONRR brings together the necessary ecological and legal expertise
within the state to pursue natural resource restoration. In this
capacity, the Office serves as technical and litigation support
to the New Jersey Attorney General's
Office in pursuing natural resource damage claims and restoration
settlements.
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