Okaloosa County BOCC — March 17, 2015 — 2015-2016 Shoal River DIG Application with Base Commander and EDC Signatures

FY 2015/16 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program A. Project Title: Shoal River Military Installation Buffering Project B. Counties/lnstallation(s) Affected: Okaloosa County, Walton County, Eglin Air Force Base, Duke Field, Hurlburt Field, Army's 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) C. Community Government/Authority Appl icant: Government/Authority Federal Employee Identification Number: 59-6000765 Name of Primary Contact: Nathan D. Boyles Title: Chairman Address: 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd, Ste 206 City: Fort Walton Beach State: Florida Zip: 32547 Telephone: (850) 651-7200 x4381 Fax: (850) 609-5029 Email: grants@clerkofcourts.cc Proposed Grantee Contact Information (if different f rom above): Name of Primary Contact: Marcella B. Eubanks Title: Contracts & Grants Manager Address: 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Ste 206 City: Fort Walton Beach State: Florida Zip: 32547 Telephone : (850) 651-7200 x4381 Fax: (850) 609-5029 Email : meubanks@clerkofcourts.cc D. Category of Proposed Project (mark t hose that apply): 2LEncroachment; _Transportation & Access, _Utilities, _Communications, _Housing , X Environment, _Security, _Other (Explain) E. Summary of Project (max 1 page): The identified land area is the direct path of Duke Field's flight approach and departure routes. The Shoal River Buffer Area is generally defined as an area of undeveloped land located South of 1-10, north of Duke Field , east of State Road 85, and on both sides of the Shoal River in Okaloosa County, Florida. Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and Okaloosa County (County) are partnering to protect this Shoal River region from development that could have an adverse impact on the missions at Duke Field and Eglin AFB. The identified land for buffering acquisition is also within the Northwest Florida Greenway; a conceptual plan to help identify and prioritize land preservation and conservation opportunities that will protect the land and air space corridors from Apalachicol~ to Eglin AFB. Okaloosa County Water and Sewer (OCWS) is also committed to protecting the water quality in this Shoal River vicinity while also providing buffering. Duke Field, located just south of this Shoal River region, has critical current and future missions that are highly susceptible to night lighting intrusion. Those include the 919 th Special Operations Wing , which is headquartered at Duke 1  FY 2015/16 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program Field, plus the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) which will operate its Marine variant (F- 358) at Duke as part of Eglin's JSF Initial Joint Training Center. These lands are within the noise contours of Duke Field, so the potential for aircraft-related noise emanating off the Eglin reservation is very high. It would be in the best interests of the citizens of Okaloosa County as well as the United States Air Force to avoid the mission encroachment of incompatible development in this area. OWCS and Eglin AFB have partnered in this buffering initiative in Fiscal Years (FY) 2011,2012, 2013, and 2014, and there is a pending contract for 2015. This application for $300,000 supports continuation of this initiative. With this funding, the County anticipates providing a match for $300,000 in Federal money obtained by Eglin AFB through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI)