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Gene O’Connor participates in NRDA workshop in Washington, DC

Eugene J. O’Connor participated in a two day workshop in Washington DC on October 16 and 17, 2007 jointly sponsored by the International Group of P&I Clubs, ITOPF and NOAA that focused on Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Topics included the respective roles of the Clubs, ITOPF and NOAA in an oil spill occurring in the United States, drafting Memoranda of Understanding among these interests, methods to expedite agreement about restoration of injured resources, the use of computer models to assess injury to various resources, issues relating to closure of fisheries after a spill and the role of the National Pollution Fund in the NRDA process.  Participants included representatives from NOAA, the Department of the Interior, the National Pollution Fund, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Parks Service, the US Coast Guard and their technical consultants and counsel as well as representatives of many of the P&I Clubs, their environmental experts and a select group of attorneys from around the country invited by the International Group from who specialize in this field.  To learn more about the workshop or Natural Resource Damage Assessments, please feel free to contact Mr. O’Connor at oconnor@codus-law.com.