Trustee Agencies Seek Input on Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan for the 1999 Mystery Oil Spill

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PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have released a draft plan to restore natural resources impacted by an oil spill that occurred off the coasts of Oregon and Washington in March 1999. The draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan, and associated Environment Assessment, are available for public review and comment for 30 days, through August 12, 2024.

The spill affected approximately 60 miles of northern Oregon and southern Washington beaches, but its source was never identified. Acting as trustees of natural resources on behalf of the public, the Service and WDFW conducted a Natural Resource Damage Assessment, a process to evaluate the spill’s environmental impact. An estimated 3,200 birds were killed by the spill, including rhinoceros and Cassin’s auklets, common murres, northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, western grebes and marbled murrelets, a species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The cost of projects in the restoration plan total $35 million and are intended to restore species injured by the spill. The plan proposes six projects that restore destroyed nests, protect and restore nesting habitat, and reduce disturbance of nesting seabird species that were most harmed by the incident. This restoration is needed to make the public and environment whole for losses caused by the spill. This is an important first step in submitting a claim for monetary damages to the National Pollution Funds Center, which is part of the U.S. Coast Guard. 
 
Trustees will review and respond to comments in the final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan. To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments on or before August 12, 2024. Submit your comments on the draft document by the following methods:

• U.S. Mail: Mike Szumski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2127 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, OR 97365
• Email: mysteryspillrestorationplan@fws.gov. Please include “Mystery Oil Spill Restoration Plan Comments” in the subject line. 
   
  View the draft plan and environmental assessment

You may also obtain a copy of the draft plan and environmental assessment by emailing mysteryspillrestorationplan@fws.gov, or by U.S. mail by sending a request to Mike Szumski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2127 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, OR 97365.