Okaloosa County BOCC — February 4, 2014 — Pre-application for Design, Construct and Equip Air Traffic Control Tower at DTS — reading text

and the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4347, as amended. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Northwest District Office staff in Pensacola indicates that the proposed project may impact wetlands on-site. If this is the case, the applicant would be required to apply for and obtain an environmental resource permit (ERP) under Chapter 62-346, Florida Administrative Code. This authorization will cover the requirements for both wetlands effects and stormwater management. According to the Operating Agreement between the DEP and Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD), the applicant would apply for the ERP permit through the NWFWMD’s Crestview Field Office if the project involves less than five acres of wetland impacts. Please apply to the DEP’s Northwest District Office if the wetland impacts are greater than five acres. For further information and assistance, please contact Mr. Scott Casey at (850) 595-0574 or Scott.CasevZden. state. flus. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes that, given the land cover in the proposed project area, a number of state-listed, federally listed and protected species may occur on-site. As such, staff recommends that the Environmental Assessment prepared for the project include wildlife surveys for state-listed species within the project area in the alternatives analysis, Please refer to the enclosed FWC letter and contact Mr. Ben Shepherd at (407) 858-6170 or Ben. Shepherd MvEWC.com for further information and guidance on conducting wildlife surveys in accordance with FWC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protocols. wh dep whet fd dts Mr. David Alberts Page 2 of 2 December 19, 2012 at, although no historic properties will be Florida Department of State (DOS) staff finds th; Destin Airport (aka the Northwest F lorida affected as a result of the proposed undertaking, Regional Airport) began operating in 1957, but has not been formally recorded and entered into the Florida Master Site File (FMSF). If historic, DOS requests that the airport, including associated runways, taxiways and all buildings or structures 50 years of age or older be recorded using a Resource Group form from the FMSF website. If buildings or structures in the project area are less than 50 years old, however, no additional information is required. Please refer to the enclosed DOS letter for additional information. Based on the information contained in the notice and comments provided by our reviewing agencies, at this stage, the state has no objections to the proposed federal activities. To ensure the project’s consistency with the Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP), the concerns identified by the state must be addressed prior to project implementation. The state’s continued concurrence will be based on the activity’s compliance with FCMP authorities, including federal and state monitoring of the activity to ensure its continued conformance, and the adequate resolution of any issues identified during this and subsequent reviews. The state’s final concurrence of the project’s consistency with the FCMP will be determined during the environmental permitting process, in accordance with Section 373.428, Florida Statutes. Thank you for the opportunity to review the proposed project. Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Ms. Jillaine M. Owens at (850) 245-2187. Yours sincerely, Atty Po Cerne Sally B. Mann, Director Office of Intergovernmental Programs SBM/jmo Enclosures ce: Darryl Boudreau, DEP, Northwest District Scott Sanders, FWC Scott Edwards, DOS WOR” rap “ALE TL Florida Department of Environmental Protection "More Protection, Less Process” - a ; 210 P Home | Contact DEP | Search | DEP Site Map Peeled ante 42/19/2012” OS ‘FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - SCOPING NOTICE - CONSTRUCT - ‘NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AT DESTIN AIRPORT - DESTIN, OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA. Ce AA . NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AT DESTIN AIRPORT - : OKALOOSA CO. - Le neers care cee ne emaeme sammie cetemian game nes saeco tot at Age ee ENVIRONMENT. - FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The DEP's Northwest District Office staff in Pensacola indicates that the proposed project may impact wetlands onsite. If this is the case, the applicant would be required to apply for and obtain an environmental resource permit (ERP) under Chapter 62-346, Florida Administrative Code. This authorization will cover the requirements for both wetlands effects and stormwater . management. According to the Operating Agreement between the DEP and Northwest Florida Water Management District WFWMD's Crestview Field Office if the project (NWFWMD), the applicant would apply for the ERP permit through the N involves less than five acres of wetland impacts. Please apply to the DEP's Northwest District Office if the wetland impacts are greater than five acres. For further information and assistance, please contact Mr. Scott Casey at (850) 595-0574 or ‘Scott. Casey@dep. state. fl.us. eee ene STATE. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATED s—s—<CSs—i‘—SCS DOS staff finds that, although no historic properties will be a (aka the Northwest Florida Regional Airport) began operating in 1957, but has not been formally recorded and entered into the Florida Master Site File (FMSF). If historic, DOS requests that the airport, including associated runways, taxiways and all - buildings or structures 50 years of age or older be recorded using a Resource Group form from the FMSF website. If ‘buildings or structures in the project area are less than 50 years old, however, no additional information is required, SORTHWEST FLORIDA WMD NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT fected as a result of the proposed undertaking, Destin Airport No Comments coos es nan nein COMMUNITY PLANNING - FLORIDA DEPARTM iT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY oo — Lif COMMISSION - FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION oe a, a number of state-listed, federally listed and the Environmental Assessment prepared for the project The EWC notes that, given the land cover in the proposed project are protected species may occur on-site. As such, staff recommends that include wildlife surveys for state-listed species within the project area in the alternatives analysis. Please refer to the enclosed FWC letter and contact Mr. Ben Shepherd at (407) 858-6170 or Ben.Shepherd@MyFWC.com for further information and guidance on conducting wildlife surveys in accordance with FWC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protocols. TRANSPORTATION - FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION The FDCT Aviation Office and District Three have no comments. WEST FLORIDA RPG - WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL No Comments OKALOOSA - OKALOOSA COUNTY Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Cormission Commissioners Kenneth W. Wright Chairman Winter Park Kathy Barco Vice Chairman Jacksonville Ronald M. Bergeron Fort Lauderdale Richard A. Corbett Tampa Aliese P. “Llesa" Priddy Immokalee Charles W. Roberts I! Tallahassee Brian S, Yablonski Tallahassee Exotica Stall Nick Wiley Executive Director Greg Holder Assistant Executive Director Karen Ventimiglia Chief of Staff Olfice af the Executive Director Nick Wiley Executive Olrector (850) 487-3796 (850) 921-5786 FAX Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 Voice: (850) 488-4676 Hearing/speech-impaired: (800) 955-8774 (T) (800) 955-8770 (V) MyFWC.com December 4, 2012 Ms. Lauren Milligan Environmental Manager Florida State Clearinghouse Florida Department of Environmental Protection 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 47 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000 Lauren. milligan@dep.state. fl.us RE: SAI#FL201211066409, Federal Aviation Administration — Scoping Notice - Construct New Air Traffic Control Tower at Destin Airport — Destin, Okaloosa County Dear Ms. Milligan: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff has reviewed the application for the above-mentioned scoping notice and provides the following comments for your consideration in accordance with the Coastal Zone Management Act/Florida Coastal Management Program. Project Description The Okaloosa County Airports System is proposing to build an Air Traffic Control Tower on the east side of the Airport property. The purpose of the proposed project is to improve airspace safety. This is necessary because of diversified aircraft fleet mixes and proximity to Eglin Air Force Base operations. In addition to construction of the control tower, the Airports System will evaluate the development of a 3,990-foot access road to the tower, development of utility service connections, and removal of visual obstructions. Potentially Affected Resources A Geographic Information System review indicates that land cover in the proposed project area is primarily transportation, freshwater marsh, and hydric pine flatwoods. Some of these areas, and their underlying soils, may support gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus, State-Threatened) and commensal species, such as the gopher frog (Lithobates capito, State Species of Species Concern) and eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi, Federally-Threatened), often associated with gopher tortoise burrows. The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) has been observed on the property adjacent to the project area. The Florida black bear is no longer state-listed; however, this species remains protected by the Florida Black Bear Conservation Rule (68A-4.009, Florida Administrative Code). Given its proximity to the coast, the project area may also support the Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys, Federally-Endangered). Lauren Milligan Page 2 December 4, 2012 Recommendations It is our understanding that an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. We recommend that, as part of the EA, wildlife surveys be conducted for state-listed species within the project area. These results should be included in the alternatives analysis so that FWC will be able to evaluate potential impacts on state-listed species. All wildlife surveys should be conducted by qualified individuals with recent documented experience for each potential species and should follow protocols established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FWC. Information and guidance for conducting wildlife surveys can be obtained from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Guide (http://myfwe.com/conservation/value/fvcg/), Gopher tortoise survey protocol and permitting guidelines can be found in the Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines (http://mvfwe.com/media/1410274/GTPermittingGuidelines.pdf). We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the early coordination efforts for the Okaloosa County Airports System. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Jane Chabre either by phone at (850) 410-5367 or at FWCConservationPlanningServices@MyFWC.com. If you have specific questions regarding the content of this letter, please contact Ben Shepherd at (407) 858-6170 or by email at Ben. Shepherd@MyFWC.com. Yoko D> Bonita Gorham Land Use Planning Program Administrator Office of Conservation Planning Services Sincerely, bg/bs ENV 1-3-2 Destin Air Traffic Control Tower _16919_ 120412 RICK SCOTT KEN DETZNER Governor Secretary of State Ms, Lauren Milligan December 10, 2012 Florida State Clearinghouse 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard MS #47 FDEP- #3700 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Re: SHPO Project #: 2012-5536/ SAI #: FL201211066409 Federal Aviation Administration- Scoping Notice- Construct New Air Traffic Control Tower at Destin Airport (Okaloosa County) Dear Ms. Milligan: The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviewed the referenced project for possible Impact to historic