Okaloosa County BOCC — July 2, 2013 — 2013 2014 Shoal River DIG Application — reading text

2013-2014 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program A. Project Title Shoal River Military Installation Buffering Project B. Counties/Installation(s) Affected Okaloosa County, Walton County, Eglin Air Force Base, Duke Field, Hurlburt Field, Army’s 7th Special Forces Group C. Community Government/Authority Applicant: Government/Authority Federal Employee Identification Number: 59-6000765 Name of Primary Contact: Brenda Bailey Title: Contracts & Grants Manager Address: 1804 Lewis Turner, Suite 206 City: Fort Walton Beach State: Florida Zip: 32547 Telephone: (850) 651-7200 x4381 Fax: (850) 609-5029 Email: bbailey@clerkofcourts.cc Proposed Grantee Contact Information (if different from above): Name of Primary Contact: Jeff Littrell Title: Okaloosa County Water & Sewer Director Address: 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd. City: Ft. Walton Beach State: FL Zip: 32547 Telephone: (850) 651-7172 Fax: (850) 651-7593 Email: jlittrell@co.okaloosa.fl.us D. Category of Proposed Project (mark those that apply): X Encroachment; __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 departures. The Shoal River Buffer Area is generally defined as an area of undeveloped land located South of I-10, north of Duke Field, east of State Road 85, and on both sides of the Shoal River. 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 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 Apalachicola 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 919th 1  2013-2014 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program Special Operations Wing, which is headquartered at Duke Field, plus the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) which will operate its Marine variant (F-35B) 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. Okaloosa County (OWCS) and Eglin AFB have partnered in this buffering initiative in FY 2011, FY 2012, and FY 2013. This application for $200,000 supports continuation of this initiative. With this funding, the County anticipates providing a match for $200,000 in Federal money obtained by Eglin AFB through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) program. These combined allocations would be used to purchase land in the Shoal River Buffer Area. The planned activities for this project are listed in Section N below. A project map is at Appendix A. F. How will this infrastructure project improve the base and what is its relative importance to the overall military mission? (Max 1 page) The Northwest Florida Greenway project is intended to protect and sustain existing military lands and airspace, promote continued target industry growth, and preserve the environmental quality and biodiversity of the region by protecting a corridor of undeveloped land. This targeted land acquisition will achieve these goals and provide for an unencumbered flight path off of Duke Field. The area included within the Shoal River project occupies a key stretch of land at Eglin Air Force Base’s northern boundary and is an extremely important part of a greater Shoal River Buffer Initiative that will be used as a land buffer between Eglin and the surrounding privately owned properties. The project is within a locally designated Military Influence Planning Area III, which encompasses rural areas of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties that are vital air bridges to and from the Eglin reservation, including low-level ingress/egress corridors and the cruise missile corridor. Of particular concern is noise and safety associated with low-level aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing operations. Acquisition of the subject property will preclude such conflicts in the subject area. By precluding encroachment in the flight path, the proposed land acquisition project protects and enhances the viability of Duke Field for existing and future potential operations. If Duke Field’s mission capability is reduced due to 2  2013-2014 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program encroachment in its flight path, the Air Force will have to alter operations and may have to undertake the costly relocation of personnel and equipment to other areas of the Eglin Reservation or other installations. This project is due north of Duke Field, one of the major outlying fields of Eglin and a designated training area for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft (specifically the F-35B STOVL version). Projected noise resulting from that training will go beyond the Eglin range border north near the City of Crestview. Maintaining unencumbered airspace to serve as flight paths and training areas is critical to Duke Field’s missions. Encroachment within the flight path will result in land use conflicts between the installation and adjacent/surrounding property owners. This project will help ensure that land use activities in this critical area remain consistent with the current and foreseeable missions of Eglin/Duke Field, thus providing both long-term mission viability as well as enhancing the health, safety, and welfare of the public. This land acquisition is in support of Okaloosa County’s Joint Land Use Study encompassing the three county area of Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton. Of the numerous recommendations contained in the report, two are particularly important here, namely “Develop a Land Acquisition Program” and “Support and Promote State and Federal Land Acquisition in Yellow River and Shoal River Floodplains and Tributaries.” The land acquisition program is designed to purchase either fee simple title to – or restrictive easements on – those properties identified as critical to ensuring the continued viability of Eglin and its missions. Finally, in addition to protecting mission viability and enhancing public safety, the project also presents an opportunity for multiple use management, including long-term public water supply for area residents, many of which depend on Eglin for their jobs. G. Estimated Florida Defense Infrastructure project Cost: Design & Engineering: $ Right-of-Way: $ Construction: $ Other: Land Acquisition $ 200,000 TOTAL COST: $ 200,000 If the project could be phased over time, break out the phases and costs. N/A 3  2013-2014 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program H. Does the Project Relate to Other Local/State/Federal Budgets: Circle one: Yes / No If “Yes”, explain how: We anticipate that USAF Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funding will be available to leverage this project . I. Amounts of Other Leveraged Funding/Contributions: 1. (Federal) $200,000_ (State) _______ (Local) _______ 2. (Private) _______ (Revenue Bonds) _______ (Other) _______ J. Impact of the Project on the Installation’s Future Base Efficiencies In terms of the buffer initiative, it will conserve land to prevent incompatible development north of Duke Field, which is a critical military installation for Eglin AFB with the new Joint Strike Fighter Initial Training Center and the 7th Special Forces Group. This buffer is a solution to the noise and safety issues associated with low level aircraft operations. From a future base efficiency standpoint, it ensures long-term mission viability and supports the Northwest Florida Greenway Initiative. In terms of long-term water supply, it can drought- proof the installations and provide for growth opportunities of the installation itself and the infrastructure that supports the families. K. Estimated Project Start Date and Estimated Time for Design and Construction This grant application is for land acquisition of a buffer project. There is no design and construction associated with this land acquisition request. Our intent is to purchase the land as soon as possible, but with land negotiations, a realistic estimate would be 12-16 months from the grant award. L. Eligibility: 1. Is this an on-base project? Circle one: Yes/No 2. Within the past 12 months, was your infrastructure project denied funding by the Florida Legislature? Circle one: Yes / No 3. Within the past 12 months, did the Florida Legislature fund this project? Circle One: Yes / No 4  2013-2014 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program 4. Within the past 12 months, has the Governor vetoed an appropriation for this project? If so, the project cannot compete for funding until 12 months have passed since the veto date. Circle One: Yes / No 5. Can this project be completed within 36 months or less? Circle One: Yes/No M. Gift Letter: Indicate if the grant requires federal contracting support to include the Service’s approval of a gift. Circle one: Yes / No 5  2013-2014 Defense Infrastructure Grant Program N: Plan of Action Outcome/ Performance Planned Activity Objective Milestone Measures Category A State the date in which the State intended outcome of each What does this activity plan to activity is projected to be activity. Quantify a measurable accomplish? completed ROI.