This Handbook provides guidance and policy that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of LandManagement (BLM) personnel should follow when undertaking Natural Resource Damage Assessment andRestoration (NRDAR) activities. The BLM is responsible for sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of theBLM-managed land under its jurisdiction for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The FederalLand Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, Public Law 94-579, (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) requires that theBLM provide the public the opportunity to use and appreciate significant cultural and natural resources whileprotecting and conserving them (FLPMA; 135 Departmental Manual 1, 1.3, A-D). Pursuant to these responsibilities, the resource management goals of the BLM are to maintain the health of the land and, to the best of its ability, torestore or replace resources that are harmed by pollution. The authorities and process of NRDAR are very usefultools for the BLM to use in accomplishing these resource stewardship responsibilities. The NRDAR authoritiesenable the BLM to seek compensation for restoration of injured resources (see Definitions and Terminology, Section1.3) from the potentially responsible party (PRP) to fund restoration, but NRDAR injury assessment and restorationplanning steps also can be a part of the BLM site activities that are funded by the BLM
