FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 19, 2014
GOVERNOR SCOTT
REQUESTS MORE THAN $77 MILLION IN GULF COAST RESTORATION PROJECTS
~State of Florida proposals include 20 projects for the Gulf Coast~
TALLAHASSEE –
Today, Governor Rick Scott announced five proposals for 20 projects totaling
$77 million were submitted to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
(Council) for consideration under the Council-Selected Restoration Component
portion of funding through the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist
Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast Act of 2012 (RESTORE
Act).
Governor
Scott said, “We’re committed to protecting and restoring Florida’s estuaries,
and these $77 million in projects would significantly bolster our efforts to
protect and restore our natural treasures. Our Department of Environmental
Protection has worked closely with local leaders and environmental stakeholders
to identify the projects that will best benefit our critical ecosystems.
Through state funding we’ve made major investments in the Everglades and the
Keys, and with these dollars we’ll make similar investments in North Florida’s
estuaries and continue to make Florida’s environment a priority.”
Funding
Proposals
These
proposals address high priority restoration needs in 10 major watersheds from
Perdido Bay to Tampa Bay. They also represent the feedback received from
numerous meetings with stakeholders and citizens. Additionally, the proposals
represent projects from the list of over 1,200 submissions to the Department of
Environmental Protections’ online portal.
- The Pensacola Bay Watershed Proposal
encompasses two living-shoreline projects, a wastewater reuse project, a
stormwater and wastewater improvement project and a contaminated sediment
removal planning project. These projects will collectively improve Pensacola
and East Bays, a portion of the Santa Rosa Sound, as well as Bayou Chico. The
funding amount for this proposal totals $15.9 million.
- The Apalachicola Bay Watershed Proposal
includes three major projects that would improve fresh water flows to the
hydrologically impacted bay. Also, an expansion of a Natural Resource Damage
Assessment oyster population rebuilding project, a marsh and oyster reef project,
and an agricultural pollution reduction project will help to restore the bay
and assist affected oystermen. The funding amount for this proposal totals
$26.1 million.
- The Suwannee River Watershed Proposal
would provide $12.1 million in funds to acquire conservation easements in the
Florida Forever Lower Suwannee River and Gulf Less-than-Fee Program and to
implement an oyster-restoration project near Cedar Key, as well as an
agriculture pollution reduction project. These projects will restore and
protect water quality and habitats that sustain the local communities whose
economies depend on these vital resources.
- The Tampa Bay Watershed Proposal includes $6.9
million in funding for five projects, three of which are shovel-ready
stormwater projects that would improve water quality and habitat within this
watershed. Also included in this proposal are Manatee County’s Robinson
Preserve restoration and Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary living shoreline
installations, which are two highly ranked projects identified in the Southwest
Florida Regional Ecosystem Restoration Plan.
- The last proposal, Northwest Florida Estuaries
and Watersheds Proposal, is intended to complete the current watershed planning
efforts in the Panhandle and includes funding for design, permitting,
implementation and monitoring for high priority water quality and habitat
restoration projects that will be identified through these planning efforts.
The funding amount for this proposal totals $16.8 million.
The five proposals, involving approximately 20 specific projects, total more than
$77 million in requested funding. Information may be found about each proposal
at www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.com.
“Water
quality is a top priority in Florida, and the projects in the submitted
proposals significantly reflect that priority. We hope to see the projects
approved and implemented in the near future,” said Secretary Herschel T.
Vinyard Jr. of the Department of Environmental Protection. “The proposals
submitted are just one example of Governor Scott’s commitment to the
environment.”
"Thanks
to the Governor's leadership this group of Florida proposals advances a vision for
restoring some of our most important Gulf Coast estuaries and watersheds,"
said Executive Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Nick Wiley. “These RESTORE projects would revitalize key habitat
for fish and wildlife and help support the economies of coastal communities
that are so closely tied to these resources."
“The
Gulf Consortium is tasked with creating the State Expenditure Plan for the
Spill Impact Component of the RESTORE Act funds and working with Governor Scott
is an important step to gaining successful projects for the state of Florida,”
said Mike Sole, Governor Scott’s appointee to the Gulf Consortium. “Florida’s
proposals submitted to the Council focus on restoring Florida’s natural
resources and as a member of the Gulf Consortium, I am thankful to Governor
Scott for his continued dedication to restoring the Gulf Coast.”
“Audubon
Florida is supportive of the five proposals submitted for consideration by the
Council,” said Eric Draper, executive director for Audubon Florida. “There are
many projects within the proposals that would continue Governor Scott’s work to
conserve the vital habitats in our state.”
“These
proposals show that Governor Scott and the state of Florida are committed to
improving water quality, restoring critical habitats and cleaning up our
shorelines,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. “From Apalachicola
Bay to Central Florida springs to coastal estuaries, these projects will make a
real difference across the state.”
“The Gulf Consortium is fully supportive of the
proposals submitted by Governor Scott,” said President of the Florida
Association of Counties, Chairman of the Gulf Consortium and Escambia County
Commissioner Grover Robinson. “Also, local governments across the Florida Gulf
Coast have greatly enjoyed the working relationship with Governor Scott and
state agencies to plan, propose, and initiate restoration of our environmental
assets."
"The
after affects of the BP oil spill are still felt in many communities and by
many businesses in coastal Northwest Florida," said Senator Don
Gaetz. "The grant funding announced today is another step in
rebuilding and strengthening our environment and our economy. I'm
grateful to Governor Scott and Secretary Vinyard for working closely with local
leaders on these funding decisions."
“Protecting
Florida’s water continues to be my top priority while serving in the Florida
Senate,” said Senator Charles S. Dean (R-Inverness). “The projects Governor
Scott submitted to the RESTORE Council under the Suwannee River Watershed
proposal would help protect Florida's natural resources for future
generations."
"Both
the Pensacola Bay and the Northwest Florida Estuaries and Watersheds proposals
are great news for the Panhandle,” said Representative Doug Broxson. “I want to
thank Governor Scott for his continued commitment to restoring the Gulf Coast
of Florida following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill."
“Pensacola Bay is one of Florida’s most
important bays and I am grateful to Governor Scott, DEP Secretary Vinyard and
Nick Wiley of FWC for their hard work in recognizing that restoring this bay is
top priority for the state of Florida,” said City of Pensacola Mayor Ashton
Hayward.
“We
are so pleased to see three proposals including planning and implementation for
Panhandle estuaries and watersheds were submitted by Governor Scott to the
Council,” said Temperance Morgan, executive director for The Nature
Conservancy. “These proposals would extend the good work being done by TNC and
lay the foundation for a sophisticated estuary program for the Panhandle.”
“Governor
Scott’s submitted proposals complement the work already being implemented in
the Panhandle watersheds to preserve water quality and quantity,” said Executive Director of the Northwest Florida Water Management
District Jon Steverson. “We are hopeful the projects will be approved and more can be done to
protect Northwest Florida’s water resources.”
“Tampa
Bay is a critical lifeline to the health of the Gulf of Mexico and the projects
included within the proposals submitted by Governor Scott reflect the much
needed restoration and water quality improvement for Tampa Bay,” said Holly
Greening, executive director of Tampa Bay National Estuary Program.
“The
Suwannee River watershed is one of the largest watersheds affecting the Gulf of
Mexico,” said Ann B. Shortelle, Ph.D. executive director of the Suwannee River
Water Management District. “The projects included in Governor Scott’s submitted
proposal would address many water quality and habitat issues in the Suwannee
River watershed.”
“Water
is a necessary part of our lives and ensuring the quality of Florida’s water
and associated natural resources is a top priority of the state and our
District,” said Robert Beltran, executive director of the Southwest Florida
Water Management District. “We are pleased to see that priority reflected in
Governor Scott’s proposals for RESTORE Act funding.”
The
RESTORE Act
The
RESTORE Act allocates 80 percent of the Clean Water Act administrative and
civil penalties resulting from the Deepwater Horizon incident to the
Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. To date, Transocean is the only responsible
party to settle its civil liability and a portion of those funds are now
available. The Council-Selected Restoration Component, commonly known as Bucket
2, equates to 30 percent of available funds and is managed by the council. For
this first round, the total available for projects is roughly $150 to $180
million to be shared among 11 council members.
Once
the council staff receives all member proposals they will be reviewed for
eligibility and posted online. The council members will then work to create a
draft Funded Priorities List, which will be available in the Spring/Summer of
2015 for public review and comment.
The
state of Florida will compete for Bucket 2 funding with the other states and
federal agencies represented on the council. The proposals must align with the Council’s Comprehensive Plan, which was published in August 2013. The
Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission have been working diligently to ensure Florida’s Bucket
2 proposals align with the council’s goals, have wide support and significantly
contribute to the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico.
RESTORE
Act funding is just a small portion of the overall environmental restoration
work that is being implemented in the state of Florida to compensate the public
for injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon spill.
To date there has been nearly $175 million in approved projects and programs
across Florida’s Gulf Coast communities through other funding sources, such as
Natural Resource Damage Assessment early restoration and National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. These projects range
from living shorelines, land acquisitions, boat ramps, coastal conservancy and
enhanced recreational use. Project selection processes among these multiple
funding sources are coordinated to ensure projects that are chosen are
complementary and successful for our treasured Gulf Coast.
These projects come on the heels of Florida
securing a record level of funding for important environmental projects through
the state budget. This year, Governor Scott approved more than $300 million for
projects to improve water quality in south Florida and the Florida Keys. This
investment will be used for critical projects for families and businesses that
rely on these natural treasures, mitigate impacts of Lake Okeechobee’s
discharges on our estuaries and divert more fresh water south to help restore
the Everglades.
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