Local officials trip to D.C. for RESTORE Act

[Kurt]

Walton County Commission Chairman Scott Brannon, Commissioner Cecilia Jones and South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) Executive Director Dawn Moliterno, traveled to Washington D.C. for the House Committee Hearing on the RESTORE Act held December 7. The group, there to press Congress to quickly approve the measure, met with Florida Congressmen in a show of support for its passage. Sponsored by Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise, the RESTORE Act (Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunity, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act of 2011; H.R. 3096) provides for 80 percent of the estimated $5-$20 billion Clean Water Act fines collected as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to go directly to the five affected Gulf Coast states. Under current law, fines collected go to the U.S. Treasury, leaving further environmental and economic efforts associated with the spill unfunded.

“Passing the RESTORE Act would have an immediate, noticeable impact on Walton County,” said Commission Chairman Brannon. “Florida could receive anywhere from $850 million to $2.85 billion as the result of this measure, with Walton County receiving roughly 10 percent of those funds for projects related to environmental and economic restoration.”

Florida Representatives Jeff Miller of District 1 (R-Chumuckla) and Steve Southerland of District 2 (R-Panama City) co-sponsored the measure and testified before Congress regarding the importance of RESTORE funding to Northwest Florida and Walton County, with Representative Miller noting in his testimony that “the Restore act fixes the imbalance by creating a way to rebuild local and state economies that took such a tremendous hit from the oil spill … This damage took place along the Gulf Coast and fines paid for the damage should be returned to the Gulf Coast.”

“After meeting with our representatives in Washington and hearing their testimony, I’m convinced they are doing their best to make sure these funds are allocated directly to victims of the oil spill,” noted Commissioner Jones. “Our meetings underscored the importance of passing this legislation.”

Added the TDC’s Moliterno, “Although we experienced a very successful tourism season this year, 2010 was devastating to many South Walton businesses. Proper allocation of these funds is crucial to Walton County’s complete recovery.”

The deadline for passage of the measure is July 2012; otherwise, RESTORE Act funding will revert to the Treasury’s general fund, with no recourse for further action.

While in Washington, Walton County officials also met with Representatives regarding the federal highway bill. Considered once every six years, the highway bill is the primary spending measure that determines the level of funding for roads and transportation infrastructure nationwide. In March 2010, Walton County officials worked with Representative Southerland to carefully craft language highlighting the importance of Highway 331 as a major evacuation route for residents and tourists in numbers that far exceed Walton County’s population numbers. Since that time, local officials have worked with Northwest Florida’s Congressional delegation to ensure full support for the evacuation language, which could lead to millions of dollars in improvements along Highway 331.

“We were pleased to learn that the Transportation Committee’s policy staff are supportive of the evacuation language in the bill,” said Commissioner Brannon. “Passage of this bill will go a long way toward improving the safety of Walton County residents and visitors.” Commissioner Jones added that “we should continue our efforts to press for support of this important initiative while we have the momentum.”

The Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman John Mica, is expected to make a final decision on inclusion of the language in the bill by late January 2012.

 

[Diamond Dave]

Added the TDC’s Moliterno, “Although we experienced a very successful tourism season this year, 2010 was devastating to many South Walton businesses. Proper allocation of these funds is crucial to Walton County’s complete recovery.”

I would like to know what the TDC's Moliterno defines as "Proper allocation" of funds.

I support funding to be used to look into the long term environmental impact of the spill.

I also would like to see funding used to seek out and prosecute those who took false claims while legit business owners are still struggling to get their claims. Local business owners have been denied claims while employees receive large payouts. Something is not right.

I do not support any additional funding for the TDC. The tourism side is back to normal and will grow next year with more visitors. Funding needs to be used for future environmental studies and planning.

If the TDC wants more money, have them partner with the Sheriff's Office and start to enforce local ordinances on the beach, specifically, dogs, bottles and parking. EQUAL enforcement of all beach users, not just locals on the off season. I see far too many visitors breaking the rules and not getting cited.

 

[Diamond Dave]

BP money to fund environmental projects in Escambia


Okaloosa didn't expect grants this round

December 14, 2011 7:35 PM


Tom McLaughlin

Daily News


Escambia County was Florida’s big winner for the first infusion of BP dollars to be spent on environmental restoration projects.

The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Board of Trustees selected two projects in Florida for funding. Both were in Escambia County.

Eight projects were chosen overall in the initial selection process. Two each were selected from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Escambia will receive $4.4 million to build four boat launches and almost $586,000 to restore 20 acres of coastal dune habitat.

Okaloosa County Administrator Jim Curry said the only surprise for him when the Deepwater Horizon Draft Phase I Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment was released Wednesday was that Florida was nominated to receive any money at all.

“I didn’t know if Florida would get any in this initial round,” he said.

Curry said he had been warned that the first projects chosen to get a piece of $1 billion in BP money set aside for environmental improvement projects would go to counties most directly affected by the BP oil spill of 2010.

“Out of the eight Florida counties affected, Escambia was by far hit the hardest,” he said. “Everyone recognized that. I’m happy for them.”

Mimi Drew, Florida’s representative on the board of trustees, said the next round of projects will be expanded to include more jobs in more counties.

Curry said he expects Okaloosa to get serious consideration at that time.

“I have big hopes for round two,” he said.

Drew said the selection of the boat launch project in Escambia County was important because it was the only project among the first eight chosen for “benefitting human use.”

Florida was uniquely impacted by the more than 200-million-gallon oil spill in that the perception of spill damage was far worse than the actual harm and had taken a toll on resource use, she said.

“The loss of human use was big for Florida,” she said.

By successfully negotiating the “human use” benefit to secure the Escambia County projects, Drew said, the groundwork was laid to make the case for similar projects in the future.

The trustees now will take their recommendations for the first projects to the public.

People can comment at www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.

Public hearings also have been scheduled for Jan. 11 12 in Florida.

Drew said she anticipates the first hearing will be in Okaloosa County and the second one will be in Escambia County.

With the first round of project negotiations completed, the trustees will take a new set of recommendations to Gov. Rick Scott and eventually to BP for final approval, Drew said.

She said she hopes funding for new projects can be announced by next spring.


Read more: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/escambia-46000-florida-fund.html#ixzz1gaGTs2mu