Escambia County has released its RESTORE Act Draft Multi-Year Implementation Plan Amendment 3 for a 45-day public comment period beginning Oct. 16, 2023 until Dec. 1, 2023.
Public comments will be accepted via the following ways:
MYIP Amendment 3 proposes alterations of two projects and the addition of eight new projects. The two alteration projects include the Escambia County Workforce Development program and Little Sabine Bay Restoration program. The eight new projects include:
Background
In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, killing 11 workers and leading to the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. As a result, the RESTORE Act was signed into law in 2012, directing 80% of administrative and civil penalties back to the impacted areas of the Gulf Coast through the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.
The U.S. Department of Treasury serves as the administrator of the RESTORE Act Direct Component, one of five funding streams through the RESTORE Act. In Florida, RESTORE Direct Component projects are selected and implemented by the 23 Gulf Coast counties, contingent on compliance with the RESTORE Act and acceptance by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
To ensure projects are consistent with the RESTORE Act and obtain broad-based participation in the project selection process, Treasury requires submittal and acceptance of a Multi-Year Implementation Plan. The U.S. Department of Treasury approved Escambia County’s Initial MYIP on Oct. 20, 2017, which included 10 projects selected by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
The first amendment to the MYIP was approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury on June 16, 2020, which included modification to three projects included in the Initial MYIP and the addition of eight new projects. The second amendment to the MYIP was approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury on Aug. 16, 2021, which proposed the addition of funds to one existing project and the addition of a new project.
The RESOTRE Act and the U.S. Department of Treasury require the county to complete a 45-day public comment period to obtain broad-based participation from the public prior to the submittal and approval of MYIP Amendment 3. Escambia County will take all public comments under advisement and reflect those comments in the public comment section of this document following the public comment period closure.
In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, killing eleven workers, and leading to the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. As a result, the RESTORE Act was signed into law in 2012, directing 80% of administrative and civil penalties back to the impacted areas of the Gulf Coast through the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. The U.S. Department of Treasury serves as the administrator of the RESTORE Act Direct Component, one of five funding streams through the RESTORE Act. In Florida, RESTORE Direct Component projects are selected and implemented by the 23 Gulf Coast counties, contingent on compliance with the RESTORE Act and acceptance by the U.S. Department of Treasury. In order to ensure projects are consistent with the RESTORE Act and obtain broad-based participation in the project selection process, Treasury requires submittal and acceptance of a Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MYIP).
On Oct. 20, 2017, the U.S. Department of Treasury approved Escambia County’s Initial MYIP, which included ten projects selected by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners. The first amendment to the MYIP was approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury on June 16, 2020, which included modification to three projects included in the Initial MYIP and the addition of eight new projects.
This amendment, MYIP Amendment 2, proposes the addition of funds to the Eleven Mile Creek Regional Stormwater Ponds Project and the addition of a new Cantonment Community Center Project.
A summary of all projects included and removed to date can be found on page 8 of Amendment 2.
The RESTORE Act and the U.S. Department of Treasury require the County to complete a 45-day public comment period to obtain broad-based participation from the public prior to the submittal and approval of MYIP Amendment 2. MYIP Amendment 2 will be made available for public review and comment from April 13, 2021 to May 31, 2021. Public comments will be accepted via the comment portal on MyEscambia.com/MYIP, by emailing restore@myescambia.com, by mail Attention: Matt Posner, Natural Resources Department, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502, or by attending the May 11, 2021 virtual public workshop. Escambia County will take all public comments under advisement and reflect those comments in the public comment section of this document following the public comment period closure.
In July 2019, the Board of County Commissioners directed staff to begin developing Amendment 1 to the MYIP. The MYIP Amendment 1 was completed in February 2020. Escambia County’s MYIP Amendment 1 includes revisions to three projects included in the Initial MYIP approved in October 2017 and eight new projects. The projects and associated budgets are highlighted below.
Project | Initial MYIP Approved Budget | MYIP Amendment 1 Proposed Budget | Project Total |
|---|---|---|---|
SOAR with RESTORE Workforce Development Program | $900,000 |
| $900,000 |
Perdido Key Multi-Use Path | $960,000 | $3,540,000 | $4,500,000 |
Eleven Mile Creek Regional Stormwater Ponds | $268,800 | $1,000,000 | $1,268,800 |
Pensacola International Airport MRO Campus Expansion |
| $1,524,000 | $1,524,000 |
Perdido Bay Boat Ramp |
| $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 |
Beulah Master Plan |
| $300,000 | $300,000 |
Brownsville Commercial Incubator |
| $350,000 | $350,000 |
Community Redevelopment Area Community Center |
| $500,000 | $500,000 |
CRA Infrastructure Economic Development Program |
| $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
Little Sabine Bay Restoration Program |
| $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
Town of Century Wastewater Improvements |
| $500,000 | $500,000 |
In preparation of submitting MYIP Amendment 1, Escambia County accepted public comment for a period of 45 days.
The public comment period opened Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 and close Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. A MYIP Amendment 1 Public Comment meeting was held Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office Complex located at 3363 West Park Place, Room 104.
The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012, or RESTORE Act, and U.S. Department of Treasury’s regulations direct Escambia County to prepare a Multi-Year Implementation Plan that prioritizes eligible activities for Direct Component funds awarded to the county through the Deepwater Horizon Settlement and RESTORE Act, and to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes and non-profit organizations as part of plan preparation.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners established the RESTORE Advisory Committee in 2012 to gain input from Escambia County citizens to develop a Needs Assessment, Selection Criteria and rank project submittals to the Project Portal. The BCC then shortlisted the following ten projects in February 2017 to include in the initial MYIP.
In preparation of submitting the final MYIP, Escambia County accepted public comment for a period of 45 days for those projects included within the plan. Escambia County BCC authorized staff at the May 25, 2017 regular board meeting to conduct the 45 day public comment period. The public comment period opened June 5, 2017 and closed July 19, 2017.
Escambia County received 349 public comments for the 2016-2017 MYIP. The public comments were summarized and addressed in the MYIP Public Comment Summary Report found on the right side of the page or by clicking here. At the September 7, 2017 Board Meeting, Escambia County BCC authorized staff to submit the MYIP without modification to the U.S. Treasury Department. The U.S. Department of Treasury approved the Escambia County 2016-17 MYIP on October 20, 2017. Approval of the MYIP allows Escambia County to begin individual grant applications for the projects. It is anticipated final adoption of grant awards will occur in the first quarter of 2018 with projects beginning shortly thereafter.
To read Escambia County's Multi-Year Implementation Plan, please click the image above or click here.
BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE
Documentation of Project Importance and Need
CARPENTER CREEK REVITALIZATION PLAN
PERDIDO KEY GULF OF MEXICO BEACH ACCESS
PERDIDO KEY MULTI-USE PATH
OLF8 COMMERCE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
HOLLICE T. WILLIAMS STORMWATER & RECREATIONAL PARK
"Flood Information Portal." Northwest Florida Water Management District, Northwest Florida Management District, Escambia County, 27 Jan. 2017. "Escambia County Damage Assessment (April 2014 Flood)." ArcGIS, Escambia County, July 2014.
OTHER DEEPWATER HORIZON RESTORATION ACTIVITIES
"RESTORE Act" Escambia County RESTORE, edited by Shelly Marshall, 10 Apr. 2016.
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