Oil spill restoration funding
When oil spills impact our natural, cultural and historic, and publicly owned resources, we work with other federal, state, and local agencies and tribes to restore those resources to pre-spill conditions. The Coastal Protection Fund (CPF) was created as a way to fund restoration and enhancement projects and studies with money collected through oil spill penalties and natural resource damage assessments. Since 1993, over 125 restoration projects have been funded by the Coastal Protection Fund Spills Program sub-accounts.
Funding cycle
- Amount of funding available: Variable. Funding awards depend on revenue from damage assessment claims and oil spill penalties. Maximum available funding is usually between $100,000 and $400,000.
- Grant award limit: To maximize available funding, the typical grant award ranges from $10,000 to $50,000.
- Amount of matching funds required: There are no recipient match or cost-share requirements, since Spills CPF grants provide 100 percent of project Total Eligible Cost. Spills CPF grants also can help meet match requirements for other state grants.
Applications are not being accepted at this time.
The last application cycle was from April 4, 2023 to May 4, 2023
Funding is available for the following entities:
Eligible applicants:
- Washington counties, cities, and towns.
- Federally recognized Tribal governments.
- State agencies.
- Non-Profit Organizations.
- Special Purpose Districts:
- Conservation Districts.
- Ports.
- Public Utility Districts.
Private entities are not eligible to receive Spills CPF funding. However, they may partner with eligible applicants to provide more financial support in addition to the Spills CPF grant.
Projects that restore or enhance the natural environment.
Here are a few eligible projects types:
- Riparian restoration.
- Aquatic land geographic information systems (GIS).
- Wetland restoration.
- Stream bank stabilization.
- Fish and wildlife habitat enhancement.
- Purchase of land/property for conservation purposes.
- Derelict fishing gear removal.
More examples of eligible project types can be found on our interactive resource restoration map.
More information about this funding program
Coastal Protection Fund (CPF) accounts
The CPF is divided into three separate accounts, two of which are managed by our Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program:
- The Resource Damage Assessment Account (RDA)
The RDA Account contains money collected from natural resource damage assessments under RCW 90.48.366 through RCW 90.48.368. The RDA Account is further divided into sub-accounts based on where the spills occurred. Projects are funded that restore or enhance public resources within the same sub-account areas.
Distribution of funds from the CPF RDA Account are determined by the CPF Steering Committee in consultation with affected local agencies and tribal governments. The committee consists of members from the following agencies:
Committee meetings are open to the public and will be announced through the media and on the Ecology events calendar.
- Department of Ecology (Chair)
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Department of Natural Resources
- Parks and Recreation Commission
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The John Bernhardt (JB) Account
The JB Account receives payments from oil and hazardous material spill penalties collected under Chapter 90.48 RCW and Chapter 90.56 RCW, and the one cent-per-gallon charge from each Marine Use Tax Refund claim under RCW 32.36.330. This account is named in memory of John Bernhardt, who worked on many environmental protection activities during his 24 years at the Department of Ecology. As section head for the agency's Spill Prevention and Policy Section in Central Programs, John Bernhardt guided development and implementation of numerous important spill prevention, planning, and response initiatives, including use of the Coastal Protection Fund.
Fund disbursement from the JB Account are determined by the Spills Program Manager with recommendations from the CPF Steering Committee - The Terry Husseman Account (THA)
The Terry Husseman Account is managed by our Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program. It receives payments from penalties issued for water quality violations of the Water Pollution Control Act.
Contact information
Geoff Baran
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)
geoff.baran@ecy.wa.gov
360-790-9725