March 2017 Update

Natural Resources Management

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Direct Component

Recent Activity

Feb. 9 - At the committee of the whole meeting, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners decided to move forward with including the following projects into the MYIP:

Next, staff is meeting with the U.S. Treasury and will draft a Multi-Year Implementation Plan which will initiate a 45-day public comment period when completed. Public input will be reviewed and necessary updates will be made before the MYIP is submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department for final review and acceptance.

Click here for more information about the Direct Component.

Gulf Consortium

Upcoming

Board Meeting: Thursday, April 6, 2017, 11 a.m., ET; Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Carr Building, Room 170, 3800 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

Meeting details and information on Gulf Consortium can be found here.

Natural Resources Damage Assessment

Recent Activity

The Florida TIG began conducting site assessments for current round of NRDA funding. Project selections will be announced in April.

Click here for more information on damage assessments.

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

Recent Activity

The public was invited to a virtual meeting concerning the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund in Florida on Feb. 28. They covered background regarding GEBF, which was established to administer criminal recoveries related to the 2010 Gulf oil spill, and the projects that have been funded to date. They also discussed plans and requested feedback for the 2017 GEBF cycle and provided updates on the Florida GEBF Restoration Strategy, a multi-year planning effort to provide a vision for the remaining GEBF investments in Florida to benefit the natural resources that were impacted by the spill. For more GEBF information, click here.

If you were unable to join the meeting, you will still be able to get the meeting materials and information on how to provide feedback. The webinar will be posted at the website above shortly after it is over.

Please stay involved with Restoration Strategy development and the water management district SWIM planning updates, as appropriate:
- FWC/DEP central planning: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/gebf.htm
- Northwest Florida Water Management District SWIM plan update: http ://www.nwfwater.com/Water-Resources/SWIM/SWIM-Plan-Updates
- FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute submerged aquatic vegetation assessment: http://myfwc.com/research/habitat/seagrasses/projects/roadblocks

Click here for more information on the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

Florida Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund Strategy

Triumph Gulf Coast

Recent Activity

February 2017: The Florida House of Representatives established a Select Committee on Triumph and have proposed a bill revising the Triumph legislature. Most notably, the changes are to guarantee that at least 4 percent of funds appropriated for awards are expended in each county over the lifetime of the settlement. The bill did not change the number or geographic representation of the Triumph board members.

House Select Triumph Bill Exemption_HS PCB SOT 17-02a

House Select Triumph Bill_HS SOT1PB

The senate has also proposed a bill regarding Triumph: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0364

Upcoming

The Select Committee on Triumph Gulf Coast will meet Monday, March 6, 2017 from 3-5 p.m. in Morris Hall (17 HOB). More information at myfloridahouse.gov.

Click here for more information on Triumph Gulf Coast.

While the exact benefits of the RESTORE research projects to Escambia County can be difficult to quantify, most programs are Gulf-wide and provide an overall benefit to the county.

NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program

Recent Activity

February 28, 2017: As a way to keep stakeholders aware of new funding opportunities, the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program has coordinated with several of the other Gulf of Mexico science and restoration initiatives established following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to update a two year funding opportunities calendar. The calendar will enable stakeholders to remain informed about opportunities and assist grant applicants in planning ahead and submitting their high-quality applications to the appropriate funding opportunity (click here for a printable link to the calendar).

Upcoming

The Science Program will also participate in several upcoming conferences including the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Sciences Conference (February 6-9, 2017, New Orleans), State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit 2017 (March 26-28, 2017, Houston, Texas), and Gulf of Mexico Alliance All-hands (March 29-30, 2017, Houston, Texas).

Click here for more information on the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.