Natural Resources Damages Assessment

Natural Resources Damages Assessment (NRDA) occurs when natural resource agencies ascertain and receive funds to restore resources following the release of hazardous waste or spills that damage fish, wildlife, plants, air, land and water resources. Superfund laws trigger NRDA whenever hazardous substances are released and the Clean Water Act triggers NRDA when hazardous materials are released into navigable waters. NRDA generally requires that injured natural resources be restored to prior conditions and that the public is compensated for the loss of the resource.

Primary federal trustees are the Department of the Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service), NOAA, and the Department of Agriculture (Forest Service). Parties responsible for the release or discharge are referred to as "responsible parties." The Department of the Interior has issued regulations which provide a framework and process for administering the NRDA program.

Because of the high cost of compliance with its requirements, the NRDA program can have profound impact on NPRA members. NPRA will work with federal trustees to protect to our natural resources, but the NRDA program is in need of improved focus and generally more specific and limited compliance requirements.