Natural Resource Damage Assessment [Oil Pollution] Law and Legal Definition
According to 15 CFR 990.30[Title 15. Commerce And Foreign Trade; Subtitle B. Regulations Relating To Commerce And Foreign Trade; Chapter IX. National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, Department Of Commerce; Subchapter E Oil Pollution Act Regulations, Part 990 Natural Resource Damage Assessments, Subpart C Definitions], ‘natural resource damage assessment’ (or assessment) means “the process of collecting and analyzing information to evaluate the nature and extent of injuries resulting from an incident, and determine the restoration actions needed to bring injured natural resources and services back to baseline and make the environment and public whole for interim losses.”
Incident means any occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin, involving one or more vessels, facilities, or any combination thereof, resulting in the discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil into or upon navigable waters or adjoining shorelines or the Exclusive Economic Zone.
