FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 8, 2012
DEP AND FWC ANNOUNCE $6.3 MILLION FOR FLORIDA EARLY RESTORATION PROJECTS
TALLAHASSEE– Today, Florida’s
lead Trustee -- the Florida Department of Environmental Protection -- along
with Co-Trustee Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Trustees approved two proposed projects for Florida totaling more
than $6.3 million. Of Florida’s 770 miles of coastline, more than 170 miles
experienced oil and response impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill. This set of proposed projects focus on restoring
nesting habitat for birds and sea turtles, which was injured during
response efforts resulting from the spill. These projects will be
finalized upon completion of the public comment period.
Governor Rick Scott said, “These restoration
projects are important for our environment, our businesses and the
communities that rely on these incredible natural habitats. While this
is a step in the right direction, our work is not complete – and we will
continue to work to ensure Florida communities are fully restored.”
The Deepwater Horizon Phase II Draft Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Review projects describes the second round of projects proposed to receive funding from the $1 billion BP committed to on April 2011,
of which Florida will receive $100 million as a down payment for early
restoration. The Phase I projects are well underway in Florida, which
include four boat ramp construction projects along with a dune
restoration project totaling more than $4.9 million, all located in
Escambia county.
Florida’s economy is heavily dependent upon
tourism and commercial fishing, and hosts the highest density of sea
turtle nesting for any panhandle gulf coast state. The proposed projects address injuries related to the habitats of species which were not addressed in Phase I.
One of the projects proposes to protect
nesting habitat for beach nesting birds from disturbance, by restoring
nesting habitats that were disturbed from oil spill response activities. The
second project plans to reduce artificial lighting impacts on nesting
habitat for sea turtles, specifically loggerhead turtles, which will
begin to restore nesting habitat impaired by disturbances from the
increased lighting and machinery on the beaches from oil spill response
activities.
In Florida, both of the proposed
projects are planned to take place in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa,
Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. The projects in
this plan are being addressed separately from other early restoration
projects in order to derive more natural resource benefits by
implementing them in time for the 2013 nesting season.
The Trustees will hold a public meeting to solicit
public comment on the proposed projects Tuesday, Nov.13, at the Escambia County
Central Complex Building, also known as the LEED Building. An open house will begin at 6 p.m. central time with the public meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
Visit www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
to view the proposed projects, access public meeting information, to view
additional details of the proposed early restoration projects and ways
to submit public comment. Public comment will be accepted until Dec. 10,
2012.
For more information on the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process and projects being submitted visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon.
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