Officials assessing the environmental damages from last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill released the first set of environmental restoration projects today.

This initial eight projects -- two each in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi -- will cost a total $57 million and be funded by the $1 billion set aside by BP PLC, the oil giant whose deepwater well fouled the Gulf after a rig explosion.

The projects range from a $14.9 million oyster-habitat restoration in Louisiana to the $4.4 million construction of four boat ramps in Escambia County, Fla., according to the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees.

The plan is open for 60 days of public comment.

Click here for details of the plan.