2023-QQ-041_Attachment_2_Best_Management_Practices.pdf

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR DV, AT RISK/PUBLIC NUISANCE AND VTIP

REMOVAL PROJECTS

Derelict, At Risk/Public Nuisance and VTIP Vessel Removal Process

Derelict, At Risk/Public Nuisance and VTIP vessels are existing impacts to the environment as well as boating safety hazards, impediments to navigation, and aesthetic nuisances. Typically, these vessels are found grounded on the edges of active waterways where they may have physical impacts on benthic and shoreline communities. However, the impact of these vessels is not limited to their immediate location. If left unattended, the influences of winds and tides continue to push the boats causing greater impact as they become more deeply mired into the environment. Early extraction of these vessels will avoid and minimize the environmental impacts. In addition to these physical impacts resulting from the movement of these vessel through the environment; there is the long-term effect caused by their continued degradation and decay in the marine environment. These vessels may be constructed of various materials, such as wood, steel, aluminum, or fiberglass; each having varying degrees of resilience and can remain in the marine environment for extended periods of time. With the progression of time, the environmental impacts increase with the shading from the hull and displacement of live bottom and emergent vegetative communities resulting from the expansion of the debris field as the vessels disintegrates. The impacts resulting from the removal of these vessels during any stage is less than the impacts caused by the long-term presence of the vessel in the marine environment. Therefore, the early detection and removal of these abandoned and derelict vessels is the best means of minimizing the individual or cumulative impacts to the environment.

Derelict Vessel Removal (FDEP) Permit Exemption

An Exemption under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-330.051(5)(g) by Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has been established for the removal of derelict vessels. Based on the presumption that the extraction of these vessels from the marine environment will cause only minimal environmental impacts and in turn avoid the long-term impacts resulting from the degradation of the vessel at its current location. The environmental impacts are ameliorated by the application of the best management practices referenced below.

Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-330.051(5)(g)

(g) The removal of derelict vessels, as defined in Section 823.11(1), F.S., by federal, state, and local agencies, provided:

The derelict vessel case has been completed as specified in Section 705.103, F.S., and has been entered into the Statewide Derelict Vessel Database maintained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; All work is done in a manner that, to the greatest practicable extent, avoids additional dredging or filling, grounding or dragging of vessels, and damage to submerged resources such as seagrass beds, oyster beds, coral communities, mangroves, other wetlands, and live bottom; and An absorbent blanket or boom shall be immediately deployed on the surface of the water around the derelict vessel if fuel, oil, or other free-floating pollutants are observed during the work.

General Derelict Vessel Removal and Environmental Protection Best Management Practices. These also apply to At Risk/Public Nuisance and VTIP vessels.

The following best management practices (BMPs) will be employed by the marine contractor during the removal of derelict or other vessels. These BMPs will be incorporated into the contract for each vessel removal project. The marine contractor selected for the project will be required to show proof of their ability to meeting the BMP requirements with their contingency of equipment, staff, and expertise in the removal of derelict vessels.

Compliance with these BMPs will be monitored by the County and by local Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officers. These BMPs are as follows:

a. All Work Is to Meet the Following Requirements:

1. Operations are to be limited to daylight hours.

2. Operations are to be staged from an upland area.

3. All work is to be performed in a manner that avoids and/or minimizes impacts to live bottom and other resource areas (e.g., seagrass beds, oyster beds, wetlands, mangroves, and other sensitive habitats) while approaching, working in, and leaving the derelict or other authorized vessel site.

4. All work shall avoid impacts to manatees, sea turtles, and other species listed by the state and federal government as threatened or protected.

5. The Contractor will remove all contaminants and pollutants including fuels, batteries, paints, solvents, black/gray water, and engines from each derelict or other authorized vessel prior to or immediately after vessel extraction from water, whichever option is best to prevent environmental impacts. Any contaminant or pollutant found to be contained within a derelict or other authorized vessel as well as the used absorbent matts/socks shall be removed by the Contractor, placed in an approved container, and disposed of properly. The placement of absorbent matt/socks on the surface of the water within the turbidity barrier around the derelict or other authorized vessel is required where free floating product (gas/oil) is observed and under vessels which have been placed on land.

6. The Contractor is to provide appropriate best management practices (BMPs) approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for erosion control and turbidity protection while each derelict vessel is being removed. In areas of low to moderate currents, a Type II floating turbidity barrier will be installed within a ten (10) foot radius of the vessel being removed prior to starting any removal activities. The turbidity barrier shall be anchored to the bottom of the waterway.

7. The Contractor is to provide appropriate BMPs for erosion control and turbidity prevention around the vessels/barges being used to remove the derelict or other authorized vessel and around the perimeter of any upland staging site where necessary.

8. The Contractor is to monitor turbidity levels throughout removal work.

9. In an effort to reduce turbidity, a crane, winch and/or approved alternate method is to be used to raise the derelict or other authorized vessel from the water if available.

10. The Contractor will assess turbidity levels and allow them to return to an acceptable level similar to pre-project condition prior to removal of turbidity measures.

11. The dragging of vessels is to be avoided both on and offshore. All vessels/barges used in vessel removal shall continually monitor water depths to avoid running aground.

12. The Contractor will load derelict vessels onto a barge and/or flatbed truck (or similar) for proper disposal.

13. The Contractor is to photo-document all removals as described in SOW Section 6 with pictures taken before, during and after removal. The Contractor will provide a monthly progress report of all removal activities.

b. For Vessels That Are Floating or Lightly Aground:

1. The vessel is to be pumped out as needed and extracted (floated out) during high water.

2. Following extraction, the vessel is to be towed from the grounded location to a boat ramp or other removal point while avoiding and/or minimizing impacts to live bottom areas.

c. For Vessels That Are Hard Aground:

1. The vessel is to be approached using shallow draft vessels.

2. The vessel is to be extracted using a crane from a shallow draft deck barge, by hand using the best available tools, or similar approach to minimize impacts to the site and surrounding areas.

d. For Vessels Sunken in Shallow Water:

1. Install and inflate flotation bags as needed.

2. Lift the vessel with barge mounted crane or similar equipment.