The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees (Trustees) released the Deepwater Horizon Draft Phase I Early Restoration Plan & Environmental Assessment (DERP/EA) for formal public comment on December 14, 2011. It is the first in an anticipated series of plans to begin restoration of the Gulf of Mexico to compensate for natural resource injuries, including the loss of human use of Gulf resources, from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

The 60-day public commenting period closes Feb. 14, 2012.

The following public meetings are scheduled in Alabama: 

Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. 6pm Open House and 7pm Meeting/Presentation/Comment at the Battle House Marriott Hotel (26 North Royal Street, Mobile, AL 36602). 

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. 6pm Open House and 7pm Meeting/Presentation/Comment at the Kaiser Realty Meeting Facility (1557 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL, 36542).

Formal comments to follow.