Attachment_D.pdf

ATTACHMENT D

Derelict Vessel Removal (FDEP) Permit Exemption & Best Management Practices

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) 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;

1. 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

2. 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

The following best management practices (BMP’s) will be employed by the marine contractor during the removal of derelict vessels. These BMP’s will be incorporated into the contact for the 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 BMP’s will be monitored by the County and by local Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officers. These BMP’s are as follows:

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 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 at all times be cautious of manatee presence and will stop work immediately until a manatee is a safe distance from the work area if a manatee is spotted.

6. The Contractor will remove all contaminants and pollutants including fuels, batteries, paints, solvents, and engine from the derelict vessel prior to extraction. Any contaminant or pollutant found to be contained within a derelict vessel shall be removed by the Contractor, placed in an approved container, and disposed of properly. The placement of an absorbent blanket on the surface of the water around the derelict vessel within the turbidity barrier is required where free floating product (gas/oil) is observed.

7. 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.

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

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

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

11. The Contractor will measure turbidity levels and allow them to return to a level that is not in excess of 20 NTU’s over initial turbidity readings prior to removal of turbidity measures.