April 13, 2007 For Immediate Release

Press Contact: Craig Lilyestrom, Director

Marine Resources Division

Dept. of Natural and Environmental Resources

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Tel: (787) 999-2200 x2615

Fax: (787) 724-0365

Email: craig.lilyestrom@drna.gobierno.pr

Puerto Rico’s DNER Opens Administrative Record in Assessment and Restoration of Coral Reef Damaged by Grounding of Oil Tanker

Documents provided for Assessment and Emergency Restoration actions resulting from the T/V Margara grounding

November 16, 2006 (San Juan, PR) – The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico today announced that it has opened an Administrative Record for coral reef assessment and restoration efforts resulting from the T/V Margara grounding incident on April 27, 2006. The Administrative Record can be found online at: http://www.marineincidents.com/pr/margara/admin_record.html

Copies of all documents listed in the Administrative Record can also be located at the Puerto Rico DNER's Legal Division, 9th floor, Environmental Agencies Building, Sector el 5, Carr. 8838, Km. 6.3 Rio Piedras, PR 00936.

The Administrative Record is currently comprised of the documents that DNER, as lead administrative Trustee, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as co-Trustee, relied upon in deciding to proceed with and in undertaking assessment and Emergency Restoration actions. As applicable, the Administrative Record will expand to include those documents relied on by the Trustees to make determinations about the identification and quantification of injuries to natural resources, and the appropriate scale and type of restoration needed to make the public whole from injuries resulting from the incident.

About DNER-Puerto Rico

The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico (DNER) is responsible for the management of 25 areas with marine components including Natural Reserves, a Commonwealth Forest and a Marine Reserve. The Natural and Marine Reserves are managed by the Natural Reserves and Commonwealth Forests Divisions of the Bureau of Reserves, Refuges, and Coastal Resources of DNER. Through the passage of Puerto Rican Law 147 (Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1999), the Commonwealth has elevated the concern for and protection of coral reefs as a natural and protected resource, vital to sustaining fish and biodiversity within state waters.

About NOAA

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA’s Southeastern Damage Assessment and Restoration Centers, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, have been activated to assist in natural resource damage assessment and reef restoration projects throughout the region. In recent years, NOAA has assisted Puerto Rico in the basic assessment of coral reef resources, as called for in the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Action Plan and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. Other projects include: conducting habitat mapping of the western shelf of Puerto Rico, assessing the status of reef resources, and assessing fishery impacts.