Okaloosa County BOCC — June 2, 2015 — Taylor Task Order 12 — reading text

Management Commission executive, the proposed project is unique for the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. NMFS staff have indicated they expected to consult with others in their organization as well as their parent organization (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA) and related programs regarding the project. Additional NOAA divisions will likely include the sustainable fisheries (fisheries management) and protected resources programs. Those discussions will likely require responses that only a technical expert in the subject matter area could effectively provide. We have budgeted a limited, not to exceed cost for Taylor Engineering responses. The budget includes one additional meeting in St. Petersburg that would include two Taylor Engineering staff and the fisheries expert, along with time for discussions and consultations with the fisheries expert regarding their work products and with federal agency review staffs during the RAI process. If coordination and RAISs require more than the amount budgeted, Taylor Engineering will contact the County and discuss a modification of the contract to account for the additional level of effort. We understand that the County wishes to avoid this action. Taylor Engineering always provides cost-effective TAYLOR ENGINEERING, INC work products and will make all reasonable efforts to constrain the additional level of effort desired by the agencies for resolving their concerns. Schedule Taylor Engineering will coordinate pre-application meetings with the USACE and NMFS in the first two weeks after receipt of the contract notice to proceed. We expect that the agencies will identify meeting dates within the following month. The draft permit application for County review will require an additional 6 — 8 weeks following completion of the pre-application meetings; however, will be dependent upon timely receipt of requested information from Okaloosa County and federal regulatory authorities. We have allowed a two-week County review period and two-week revision period upon receiving County review comments. Given the unique nature of the project and because Taylor Engineering has no control over agency review processes and periods, we cannot predict the level of effort or review period for this application. We assume at least a one-year period for agency review, RAI, and RAI responses. It may likely extend beyond this time given the unprecedented project and the anticipated comprehensive review. END OF SCOPE OF SERVICES We will provide these services (Task 1 — 4) on a time and materials basis for a total cost not to exceed $76,598.50 (see table of estimated cost per task below). Should the project require additional work beyond the services above, Taylor Engineering will provide a proposal for additional services. Costs by Task TASK 1 - Regulatory Consultation and Coordination $9,438.50 TASK 2 - Permit Application Development $25,160.00 TASK 3 - Agency Coordination and Response to Requests for Additional Information $20,000.00 (time and expense, not to exceed) TASK 4 — Fisheries Expert (time and expense, not to exceed) $22,00000 TOTAL $76,598.50 May 7, 2015 Signature 7 \5\/ Date Kenneth R. Craig, P.E., Vice President Printed Name, Title s Scswosrse 7o i, TAYLOR ENGINEERING, IN Okaloosa County Deep-Water Fishing Buoy Project Fisheries Expert Selection Process Introduction Taylor Engineering expects that the services of an expert in the large pelagic fishes of the Gulf of Mexico are a necessary component for the permitting process associated with the Okaloosa County Deep-Water Fishing Buoy project. The expert is necessary to accurately assess the potential effects of the proposed buoys (if any) on fish populations. The expert must have a deep understanding of the billfish populations in the Gulf of Mexico and the pressures on those populations, as increasing the catch of such fishes is a primary purpose of the project. Such additional catch activity may or may not significantly affect one or more of the populations. Alternatives to avoid or minimize potential impacts will also need to be considered, again requiring a deep understanding of the fish species populations and ecologies. Search Procedures Taylor Engineering undertook a search for such an expert. We identified a large number of potential experts through existing individual estuarine/marine fisheries experts/professional whom we have worked with previously, discussed the project and asked for their recommendations. We also performed extensive internet searches for “Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Fisheries Expert”, “Pelagic Fisheries Expert,” “Billfish Expert,” and “Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Expert”. We eliminated from consideration experts representing marine fishery companies (e.g. fishing corporations), or those consulting for or working directly for the commercial fishing industry lobby, billfish fishing advocacy organizations, or for the US or a state government or instrumentality of federal or state government. The group that remained included representatives of academic, consulting, and other non-governmental organizations. Those individuals were contacted either by phone or by email. Of the individuals contacted, most were not interested in working on the project, either due to their expertise not including the pelagic fishes of interest for this project, personal bias in the general matter of increasing fishing activity, or because they did not believe the proposed project was viable because of technical or regulatory hurdles. A few requested additional information (including our previous feasibility study) which we submitted to them. We received positive responses from four of the potential experts (below). We reviewed the Curriculum Vitae {CV) or resume, and interviewed each expert by phone. Candidates 1. Steve W. Ross, Research Professor, Center for Marine Science 5600 Marvin Moss Ln. Wilmington, NC 28409 phone: 910-793-9754. Email Ross@uncw.edu. University of North Carolina Wilmington. Dr. Ross is a national expert on Gulf of Mexico pelagic fishes and has experience working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries, formerly the National Marine Fisheries Service — NMFS). We obtained his name from Dr. Mark Peterson, a nearshore marine and estuarine fisheries expert at the University of Southern Mississippi with whom we have previously collaborated. Dr. Ross was willing to participate in an initial meeting with NOAA Fisheries to assess the likelihood of the project receiving authorization, and would make a decision regarding further involvement at that point. 2. Jerald S. Ault, Professor, Department of Marine Ecosystems and Society. University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149. Phone 305-421-4884. Email jault@rsms.miami.edu. Rate: $350/hr. Dr. Ault indicated his interest in the project without conditions. Of the four, he has the most extensive experience in working with the NMFS, the federal natural resource agency expected to lead the technical deliberations regarding the potential effects on fisheries. He is also a very well-known expert in the population biology of the various large pelagic fish species associated with the Gulf of Mexico. 3. Jay Rooker, Ph.D. Regents Professor and McDaniel Chair of Marine Fisheries, Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston 1001 Texas Clipper Rd., Galveston, Texas 77554 Phone 409 740-4774 Email rookeri@tamug.edu Rate $150/hr. Dr. Rooker, was suggested by Mark Peterson and by David Snyder, Ph.D., (with whom we have worked in the past} and is a nationally recognized Gulf of Mexico pelagic fisheries expert. Dr. Rooker has some, but not extensive, experience working with NOAA Fisheries, but is fully familiar with the issues of placing buoys {mooring or otherwise) in conditions similar to those offshore of Okaloosa County. Dr. Ross noted that his schedule includes field work most of June and July, so he would not be available during that period. 4. David Snyder, Ph.D., CSA Ocean Sciences, Senior Scientist, Marine Biologist CSA Ocean Sciences, Inc. 8502 SW Kansas Ave. Stuart, Florida, 34997 Phone: 772-219-3015 dsnyder@conshelf.com Rate: S165/hr. Dr. David Snyder has broad experience in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico pelagic fisheries and staff level regulatory experience with NOAA Fisheries, but has much lesser specific subject matter expertise than the other experts. Recommendation We recommend Dr. Rooker based on his CV, knowledge of Gulf pelagic fishes population biology and ecology, familiarity with issues of habitat selection for the species of interest, the recommendations from colleagues in whom we have confidence, the discussions we had with him regarding the project, and his hourly rate. While he has the least specific regulatory experience, Taylor Engineering understands and has significant experience with NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) consultations with NMFS, the larger federal regulatory process and NOAA Fisheries approach to NEPA consultations and issues associated with marine fisheries.