In 2024, NOAA and partners reported helping recover $40 million from polluters to restore critical ecosystems in four waterways in three states impacted by oil spills and industrial pollution.
When hazardous substances are released, the impacts on plants, wildlife, and people who live or recreate in the affected areas can be devastating.
NOAA said it worked with partners and polluters to ensure that communities disproportionately impacted by pollution benefit from restoration projects funded by these settlements.
In New Jersey, a settlement following decades of hazardous discharges in the Raritan River will be used create 112 acres of forested floodplains and vernal pools to benefit fish and wildlife as well as communities by providing recreational trails, educational signage and access to nature.
In Texas, a 2022 pipeline failure at a crude oil terminal released 14,000 gallons of oil into Corpus Christi Bay, severely impacting natural resources, including marsh and beach habitats vital for birds and sea turtles. Settlement funds will support projects to restore these critical ecosystems.
Also in Texas, a 2019 petrochemical storage tank fire and explosion released an oily mixture of hazardous substances into Galveston Bay’s waterways, damaging marshes, shoreline habitats, birds and recreational opportunities. Settlement funds will be used for restoration projects that restore these critical resources.
Finally, in Washington state, following decades of pollution in the Lower Duwamish River that has harmed fish, wildlife, habitats, and recreational activities, two settlements will fund habitat restoration to create a vital refuge, nursery, and feeding ground for juvenile salmon and other fish species, as well as nesting sites for migratory birds.
The agency said these efforts will also benefit tribes and other local communities that value vibrant, sustainable fisheries and clean waterways.
