Public comment invited on Pinellas County RESTORE Act projects

The public is invited to review and provide comment on Pinellas County’s Multi-Year Implementation Plan for projects that would use RESTORE Act funds. The review and comment period is open through Thursday, Aug. 20.

The plan includes four proposed projects selected by a citizen-based working group that would be paid for through the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. Pinellas County has received about $1.5 million to use for environmental projects through the Direct Component of the fund, which comes from Clean Water Act penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010.

The proposed projects – and their projected costs – are: Coastal ocean monitoring and prediction system (University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science) - $233,934 Assessment of vulnerability to the impacts of sea-level rise and infrastructure resiliency plan (Pinellas County Planning Department) - $300,000 A very high resolution estuary circulation nowcast/forecast model for Tampa Bay and vicinity (USF College of Marine Science) - $479,493 Fort De Soto Park dune walkovers (Pinellas County Office of Management and Budget) -$534,894

At the end of the review and comment period, the plan will be revised if needed and submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for approval before each project receives funds.

Citizens can view the Multi-Year Implementation Plan, which has details about the proposed projects and information about how they were selected. Comments can be sent via email to restore@pinellascounty.org or via U.S. Mail to:

RESTORE Act Program Director
Pinellas County Natural Resources Division
22111 U.S. Highway 19 N., Bldg. 10
Clearwater, FL 33765