The State of ALABAMA and the Gulf Restoration Council welcome you to a public meeting about the RESTORE Act October 9, 2014 Daphne Civic Center
Overview of Meeting 1. Summary of the RESTORE Act 2. Description of the RESTORE Council’s (or “Federal” Council) role under the RESTORE Act 3. Description of the State of Alabama’s role under the RESTORE Act 4. Public Input Session (questions for consideration)
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
ALLOCATION OF RESTORE ACT FUNDS 20% Oil Spill Clean Water Act Penalties Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 30%* Gulf 2.5%* Gulf Coast 35% Equally Coast 30% Impact Ecosystem distributed to 2.5%* Ecosystem based Restoration Science, 5 Gulf States Centers of Restoration distribution to Observation, (AL, FL, LA, Excellence Council for 5 Gulf States Monitoring, and MS, TX) ecosystem (AL, FL, LA, Technology Program restoration MS, TX) Direct Council ‐ Selected Spill Impact Sec 1604/ Science Centers of Component Restoration Component Program Excellence Component *Supplemented by interest generated by the Trust Fund (50% to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, 25% to Science 1 Program, 25% to Centers of Excellence)
US Department of the Treasury • Treasury is responsible for issuing compliance and auditing procedures for the entire RESTORE Act and procedures for two grant programs administered by Treasury. • Issued Interim Final Rule in August 2014 and becomes effective October 14, 2014. No money can flow until rule is finalized.
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council • The 11 ‐ member RESTORE Council is comprised of: Governors from the five (5) affected Gulf States Secretary of the Department of Commerce (Chair) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Secretary of the Department of Army Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Secretary of the Department of Interior • RESTORE Council Website : www.restorethegulf.gov
ALLOCATION OF RESTORE ACT FUNDS 20% Oil Spill Clean Water Act Penalties Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 30%* Gulf 2.5%* Gulf Coast 35% Equally Coast 30% Impact Ecosystem distributed to 2.5%* Ecosystem based Restoration Science, 5 Gulf States Centers of Restoration distribution to Observation, (AL, FL, LA, Excellence Council for 5 Gulf States Monitoring, and MS, TX) ecosystem (AL, FL, LA, Technology Program restoration MS, TX) Direct Council ‐ Selected Spill Impact Sec 1604/ Science Centers of Component Restoration Component Program Excellence Component *Supplemented by interest generated by the Trust Fund (50% to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, 25% to Science Program, 25% to Centers of Excellence)
ALLOCATION OF RESTORE ACT FUNDS Spill Impact Component (Bucket 3) 20% Oil Spill Clean Water Act Penalties Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 30%* Gulf 2.5%* Gulf Coast 35% Equally Coast 30% Impact Ecosystem distributed to 2.5%* Ecosystem based Restoration Science, 5 Gulf States Centers of Restoration distribution to Observation, (AL, FL, LA, Excellence Council for 5 Gulf States Monitoring, and MS, TX) ecosystem (AL, FL, LA, Technology Program restoration MS, TX) Direct Council ‐ Selected Spill Impact Sec 1604/Science Centers of Component Restoration Component Program Excellence Component *Supplemented by interest generated by the Trust Fund (50% to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, 25% to Science Program, 25% to Centers of Excellence)
Spill Impact Component (Bucket 3) • Spill impact Component funds will be invested in projects, programs and activities identified in State Expenditure Plans (SEPs). • SEPs will be drafted by the States and approved by the Chair of the Council. • Each state has a different process to develop their SEP.
Spill Impact Component Status • Interim Final Rule (IFR) published August 22, 2014. Comment period closed September 22, 2014. – Provides access to up to 5% of the funds available to each State under the Oil Spill Impact Component for planning associated with preparation/completion of State Expenditure Plans • In the coming months, the Council will release a proposed rule that sets forth the final oil spill impact formula and sets levels of funding provided to each State.
ALLOCATION OF RESTORE ACT FUNDS Council ‐ Selected Restoration Component 20% Oil Spill Clean Water Act Penalties Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 30%* Gulf 2.5%* Gulf Coast 35% Equally Coast 30% Impact Ecosystem distributed to 2.5%* Ecosystem based Restoration Science, 5 Gulf States Centers of Restoration distribution to Observation, (AL, FL, LA, Excellence Council for 5 Gulf States Monitoring, and MS, TX) ecosystem (AL, FL, LA, Technology Program restoration MS, TX) Direct Council ‐ Selected Spill Impact Sec 1604/Science Centers of Component Restoration Component Program Excellence Component *Supplemented by interest generated by the Trust Fund (50% to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, 25% to Science Program, 25% to Centers of Excellence)
Goals and Objectives of the Comprehensive Plan 1. Restore and Conserve Habitat 2. Restore Water Quality 3. Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources 4. Enhance Community Resilience 5. Restore and Revitalize the Gulf Economy
www.restorethegulf.gov HOME PAGE
Process for Council ‐ Selected Restoration Component (Bucket 2) Projects Submitted. Projects may focus on Habitat and Water Quality goals, with an emphasis on projects that are foundational, sustainable, have a high probability of success and that have community benefits. Project Vetting Activities Eligibility Verification and Budget Reasonableness, Coordination Reviews Priority and Environmental Science Commitment to Compliance Evaluation Plan Evaluation Readiness Results from proposal submission and evaluation will be compiled into a context report and attached to each proposal to aid in the development of a draft Funded Priorities List. p
What You Need to Know • The submission window for members opens August 21, 2014 and closes no earlier than November 17, 2014. • Each state and federal member of the Council is responsible for proposing restoration projects and programs for consideration by the Council as a whole. • Council members may submit up to 5 projects to the Council for consideration. • Each Council member will not be able to submit every project they receive to the Council, just as everything submitted to the Council will not be included on the draft FPL.
What You Need to Know • The amount of funding available for the first FPL is approximately $150 ‐ $180 million. • Future amendments to the FPL will include significantly larger projects and project lists that reflect the full amount available to be spent for restoration activities. Additional input from the public will be solicited accordingly. • Council members have different methods to gather project submissions and ideas. You can review the Council’s Member Submission guidelines online. www.restorethegulf.gov.
The Council welcomes all public input, including feedback on project and program ideas. In providing this input, the Council asks that you consider the following questions: 1. What 5 words or phrases best describe your vision for a healthy Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in 5 years? 50 years? 2. People care about restoration, protection and enhancement of our natural resources for many different reasons. Why is ecosystem restoration important to you? What outcomes of restoration activities are most important to you? 3. What three activities do you most rely on or enjoy that depend on healthy natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico? Examples include: fishing, hunting, seafood, cultural heritage activities, bird watching, swimming, etc. restorecouncil@restorethegulf.gov
For More Information www.RestoreTheGulf.gov
State of Alabama’s Role as RESTORE Council Member AlabamaCoastalRestoration.org
State of Alabama’s Role as RESTORE Council Member 20% Oil Spill Clean Water Act Penalties Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 30%* Gulf 2.5%* Gulf Coast 35% Equally Coast 30% Impact Ecosystem distributed to 2.5%* Ecosystem based Restoration Science, 5 Gulf States Centers of Restoration distribution to Observation, (AL, FL, LA, Excellence Council for 5 Gulf States Monitoring, and MS, TX) ecosystem (AL, FL, LA, Technology Program restoration MS, TX) AGCRC Member AGCRC (No direct role) AGCRC of Council
State of Alabama’s Role as RESTORE Council Member 20% Oil Spill Clean Water Act Penalties Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund • Funds for ecological restoration projects and programs 30%* Gulf Coast • Limited to $150M ‐ $180M for Council’s first FPL Ecosystem • Alabama may submit 5 proposals to RESTORE Restoration Council for Council for consideration ecosystem • Alabama is only one of 10 Council members seeking restoration Bucket 2: funds under this bucket; Council • No “allocation” of funds ‐ so no amount guaranteed Selected for the State of Alabama Component
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