A Florida Department of Environmental Protection public meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 in Panama City Beach will gather input on the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council's Path Forward document and state projects to be submitted to the Council for consideration.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be represented at the meeting in the Student Union East Conference Center at Gulf Coast State College.
The Department and FWC will present information on five priority projects and take public on projects the Council should include in the initial Comprehensive Plan.
The RESTORE Act, passed by Congress June 29, 2012, and signed into law by President Barack Obama July 6, 2012, created the Council, and established funding categories for the Clean Water Act civil and administrative penalties resulting from the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
The Council is required, after notice and opportunity for public comment, to publish an initial Comprehensive Plan by July 6. The Path Forward document, released by the Council Jan. 29, describes plans to build on the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force work and outlines the Council plan to collaboratively develop the initial Comprehensive Plan.
The public may provide comments on the Path Forward document by e-mail to RestoreCouncil@doc.gov. State projects can be submitted online by visiting www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/projects_restore_act.htm.
The event will take place: Thursday, Feb. 28.
AGENDA
6 p.m. Open House
7 p.m. Presentation and Public Comment
Gulf Coast State College
5230 W. U.S. 98
Panama City Beach FL 32401
