T/B MORRIS J. BERMAN OIL SPILL: RESTORATION PROJECTS OVERVIEW

ABSTRACT The January 7, 1994, barge Morris J. Berman grounding and oil spill off Punta Escambrin, near San Juan, Puerto Rico, resulted in injury to natural resources along the shoreline and impaired their use for an extended time. Three major injury categories were pursued by the Trustees and the restoration projects for these injuries are presented in this paper. Including interest, approximately $10M in settlement funds are being used to fund 6 restoration projects. About $6 million of the settlement funds is being used for three projects to restore eolianite reef habitat, a type of fossilized sand dune, and other reef resources injured by the barge grounding and subsequent spill. One project, called the Condado Coral Trail project, will install artificial reef modules in the Condado Lagoon, approximately 1 mile southeast of the barge grounding site. Also in the Condado Lagoon, a 32-acre dredge hole will be brought back to historic elevations through beneficial use of dredged marine sediments. The third...