Office of Gulf Coast Restoration

U.S. Department of the Treasury

May 2017
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 Participants understand when best available 

science (BAS) is required and how it is 

evaluated

 Participants understand the requirements for 

addressing best available science in grant 

applications
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 What is best available science (BAS)?

 What projects require a BAS determination?

 How will Treasury evaluate a BAS determination?

 Which Treasury-awarded grants have included a 

BAS review?

 What information is required in a BAS 

determination?

 Where can a state, county or parish find scientific 

information for its BAS determination?

 What are tips for a successful BAS review?
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 maximizes the quality, objectivity, and integrity 

of information, including statistical information

 uses peer-reviewed and publicly available data

 clearly documents and communicates risks and 

uncertainties in the scientific basis for such 

projects.
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 A BAS determination must be included in 

grant applications for projects designed to 

protect or restore natural resources

 A BAS determination may be required for any 

eligible activity, depending on the nature of 

the project and its objectives
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 Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, 

marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast 

region

 Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources

 Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive 

conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring

 Workforce development and job creation

 Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the 

Deepwater Horizon oil spill

 Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, 

including port infrastructure

 Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure

 Planning assistance

 Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including recreational fishing

 Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast 

region
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Photo: nmfs.noaa.gov
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 A summary of the peer-reviewed information that 

justifies the proposed objectives, including methods used 

for the proposed activity.

 A summary of the literature sources’ conclusions and any 

uncertainties or risks in the scientific basis that would 

apply to the proposed activity.

 A summary of how, if the information supporting the 

proposed activity does not directly pertain to the Gulf 

Coast Region, the applicant’s methods reasonably 

support and are adaptable to that geographic area.

 A summary of an evaluation of uncertainties and risks in 

achieving the project’s best available science objectives 

over the longer term.
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 Treasury will review applications to determine 

whether the applicant answered the BAS 

question fully

 Subject matter expert reviewers will evaluate if 

the applicant’s determination is reasonable 

that the proposed project is based on BAS

◦ Timeframe: approximately 2-3 weeks

 Expert reviewers may request additional 

information or clarification that Treasury 

conveys to the applicant
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Entity Project Title Award Amount

Louisiana Coastal Protection 

and Restoration Authority

Engineering and Design of the 

Calcasieu River Salinity Control 

Construction Project

$16,000,000

Pinellas County Ft. De Soto Park Dune Walkovers $534,890

Charlotte County Restoring Bay Scallops in 

Charlotte Harbor

$113,424
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Applicants must:

 Explain how the project’s natural resource 

protection and/or restoration objectives 

and proposed methods are based on BAS

 Summarize any risks or uncertainties 

associated with the project and explain 

how these risks will be mitigated

 Cite and describe peer-reviewed 

literature or publicly available data
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Project

Evidence for 

project

Methods

Evidence for 

methods

Objective

Evidence for 

objective
15 Photo: gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
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Reduce dune 

disturbance

Objective
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 Be as clear and specific as possible

 Projects can have multiple objectives

 Frame objectives in the context of natural resource 

restoration and/or protection

Example: The natural resource protection objective is to reduce 

dune disturbance.

o NOT to build a dune walkover.

o NOT to restore dune habitat or bird nesting habitat if it is 

really to reduce disturbance to the dunes from foot traffic.
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Reduce dune 

disturbance

Objective

Support with evidence 

of disturbance at the 

site

Ex: pictures, 

observations, or survey 

data
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 Consider documenting baseline conditions at the 

project site with surveys or other collection of data

 If known, describe any underlying causes of the 

impairment

Example: Provide evidence that 

dunes are being disturbed (e.g., 

photos from the ground and/or 

aerial photos) and that pedestrian 

activity is a cause of the 

disturbance (e.g., visitor data or 

photos showing foot traffic).

Dune 

Erosion
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Build a dune 

walkover

Project

Support with evidence 

that a dune walkover 

will reduce 

disturbance

Ex: FDEP dune walkover 

guidelines

Reduce dune 

disturbance

Objective

Support with evidence 

of disturbance at the 

site

Ex: pictures, 

observations, or survey 

data
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Build a dune 

walkover

Project

Support with evidence 

that a dune walkover 

will reduce 

disturbance

Ex: FDEP dune walkover 

guidelines

A dune walkover will reduce disturbance 

caused by pedestrian traffic and allow 

natural recovery of the dune (FDEP 2006).

Reduce dune 

disturbance

Objective

Support with evidence 

of disturbance at the 

site

Ex: pictures, 

observations, or survey 

data
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 For restoration projects, provide 

evidence that site conditions are 

suitable for recovery

◦ Oyster restoration example: For an 

oyster restoration project, provide 

documentation that the environmental 

conditions at the project site are suitable 

for oysters.

 Uncertainties about the project’s ability to achieve 

the objective should be discussed when risks and 

uncertainties are addressed

Photo: CC courtesy of Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble
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Build a dune 

walkover

Project

Support with evidence 

that a dune walkover 

will reduce 

disturbance

Ex: FDEP dune walkover 

guidelines

Design and 

construction 

specifics: 

height, 

materials, 

location, etc.

Methods

Support with evidence 

of BMPs or design 

guidelines/criteria

Ex: FDEP dune walkover 

guidelines

Reduce dune 

disturbance

Objective

Support with evidence 

of disturbance at the 

site

Ex: pictures, 

observations, or survey 

data
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- General Siting Guidelines

- General Design Guidelines

- Walkover Elevation Guidelines

- Typical Walkover Profile Diagram
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 Describe the project’s methods as precisely as possible

◦ Don’t cite multiple methods without detailing which will be or are 

likely to be used

◦ Don’t include information on techniques that will not be used

 Include a monitoring plan if monitoring is included in the 

project description

 If certain details or information are unknown, but will be 

developed as part of the project, state this directly and 

provide basic guidelines or best management practices 

that will be followed to develop those details

 If possible, select the methods from citable references or 

public sources that best support the achievement of the 

natural resource protection and/or restoration 

objective
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Reduce dune 

disturbance

Build a dune 

walkover

Objective Project

Support with evidence of 

disturbance at the site

Support with evidence that a 

dune walkover will reduce 

disturbance

Design and 

construction 

specifics: 

height, location, 

etc.

Methods

Support with evidence of 

design guidelines/criteria or 

BMPs

Restore dune 

system

Plant sea oats

Support with evidence that 

the habitat function of the 

dune system is impaired

Support with evidence that 

planting native plants will 

help restore the dune 

system habitat

Planting details: 

plant type, 

spacing, timing, 

etc.

Support with evidence of 

design guidelines/criteria or 

BMPs

Objective Project Methods

EX.1

EX.2
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Applicants must:

 Explain how the project’s natural resource 

protection and/or restoration objectives 

and proposed methods are based on BAS

 Summarize any risks or uncertainties 

associated with the project and explain 

how these risks will be mitigated

 Cite and describe peer-reviewed 

literature or publicly available data
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 Could natural resources be negatively affected by the 

project?

◦ Could any other habitats or wildlife be adversely affected?

◦ Could exotic or invasive species be introduced?

◦ Could water flow/sedimentation/etc. be negatively altered?

 Are there possible or likely reasons the project may not 

be successful at achieving its objective?

◦ If native plants or animals are being reintroduced, are 

environmental conditions suitable for their success?

◦ Could theft or vandalism be a problem?

 Over what time frame are the benefits of the project 

expected?

◦ Could storm surges, hurricanes, or sea level rise impair the project 

over time?

◦ What is the anticipated longevity of the project and its results?

 Are there uncertainties in the underlying science 

used to justify the project and/or methods?
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Applicants must:

 Explain how the project’s natural resource 

protection and/or restoration objectives 

and proposed methods are based on BAS

 Summarize any risks or uncertainties 

associated with the project and explain 

how these risks will be mitigated

 Cite and describe peer-reviewed 

literature or publicly available data
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 Talk to local universities, Sea Grant Offices, libraries, state and 

federal natural resource agencies, RESTORE Act Centers of 

Excellence, National Estuaries Programs, or National Estuarine 

Research Reserves for assistance

 Use search tools, such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, 

EBSCO, Web of Science or ProQuest, to find scientific journal 

articles

 Cite references from sources relevant to the proposed project

 Contact your grants management specialist for examples of 

sources used in previous grant applications

 Consult federal and state agency websites for best 

management practices guidelines, management plans, 

monitoring plans, etc.
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 Is the source peer-reviewed or publicly available?

 How recently was the source published?

 Is the source directly relevant to the Gulf Coast?

◦ If work is based in another region, usage and relevance must be 

justified by describing how findings are applicable to and 

methods will be adapted for conditions in the Gulf

◦ Examples of issues to consider: differences in tides, salinity, 

currents, wildlife, temperature, etc.

 Is the main body of relevant literature represented in 

the cited sources?

◦ Sources with negative and/or inconclusive findings should be 

included and addressed when discussing risks and 

uncertainties.
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 Summarize relevant information from sources 

and connect to the project objectives and 

methods as clearly as possible

 Include parenthetical citations in text with a list 

of full citations at the end of the BAS narrative
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Citations for peer-reviewed scientific journal 

articles should include:

 Authors

 Publication date

 Title of article

 Title of journal

 Volume and page numbers
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Citations for other sources should include:

 As much information as possible (authors, date, 

title, etc.), including the date of access

 PDFs of documents or links to websites, as 

necessary
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 Consider BAS when selecting projects for MYPs in 

development

 Consider including the development of BAS 

documentation as part of a planning assistance project or 

feasibility study

 Be as clear as possible with the objectives of the project

 The BAS determination needs to include the required 

information in sufficient detail, but it can be concise; 

there is no minimum length or number of sources

 Include any relevant design or planning documents 

(feasibility studies, design documents, design 

specifications, design drawings, environmental 

compliance permits, etc.)
restoreact@treasury.gov

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