Okaloosa County BOCC — November 4, 2014 — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: November 4, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Ed Schroeder SUBJECT: Non-Deployment of the Tenneco DEPARTMENT: Tourist Development Department BCC DISTRICT: STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request cancelling the deployment of the Tenneco vessel as an artificial reef to avoid the risks of towing and deploying an aging vessel of questionable structural integrity. BACKGROUND: The Tenneco is a concrete hulled vessel constructed in St. Marks, FL in 1942. The TDC allocated $75K for deployment of the Tenneco vessel as an artificial reef to serve as a dive certification platform on May 30, 2013. The BCC approved the acquisition of the Tenneco on June 18, 2013 pending certain conditions being met. The permit for the Tenneco deployment area has been approved by the FDEP, but it is still pending USACE approval. It is unknown when the County will receive USACE approval for Fish Haven 19. A positive HazMat inspection has been received from SCS Engineering, and a positive Coast Guard inspection has been completed. The approved/awarded marine contractor’s insurance should provide coverage during transport of the vessel, but the County will need to provide coverage once the vessel is docked. Before the Tenneco can be deployed as artificial reef material, it will need to be completely cleaned and stripped of all wooden materials, tanks, and hazardous materials. Very little of the original deck structure (structures that visually define it as a vessel) will remain intact. The Tenneco will essentially be a cigar shaped concrete hull resting in approximately 60 feet of water. The logistics for prepping the vessel for deployment will include the coordination of volunteer groups to perform the work, dumpsters and barrels for the disposal of waste oils, fuel, and other hazardous materials, and heavy equipment may be required to efficiently deconstruct the entire upper wooden deck area. The Tenneco is currently moored in Bayou Chico, directly adjacent to the Barrancas Ave Bridge and Pelican’s Perch Marina. Unless a safe harbor can be found within Okaloosa County, the Tenneco will need to be cleaned and prepped for deployment in Pensacola. Preparation of the Tenneco has not been yet begun, but it will take a significant effort and may present Okaloosa County with additional liabilities. In addition, the marine contractor that removed the vessel from the Pelican’s Perch Marina berth pointed out that they felt that the vessel was “a little fragile” and stated that they used great caution when they pulled it away from the dock and off of the bottom where it had been resting for approximately 30 years. The Pelican’s Perch Marina is under pressure from the FDEP to dispose of the Tenneco as a condition of their submerged land lease renewal, and Okaloosa County TDD was recently contacted for support regarding the FDEP’s requirement to remove the vessel from Bayou Chico. The FY 2014-15 budget includes $75,000 for Boat Reef (account 1175-563753). Staff requests the Tenneco deployment no longer be pursued due to logistical, liability, and financial concerns. The budgeted funds will be better spent on deploying donated concrete materials from Eglin AFB or another structure to serve as a dive certification platform. The Tourist Development Council voted to recommend cancelling the Tenneco deployment at its October 23, 2014 meeting. OPTIONS: Approve or Disapprove RECOMMENDATION: Approve cancelling deployment of the Tenneco vessel as an artificial reef. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, Interim County Administrator