NOAA NMFS OLE Jacksonville FL Justifications - Updated Jan 2022 Field Office Only (2).docx

Office of Law Enforcement Jacksonville, FL Field Office NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Law Enforcement

Background:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. We provide vital services for the nation: productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems—all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management.

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), serves as the enforcement group tasked with ensuring that the management measures in place to protect our nation’s ocean resources are followed. OLE enforces domestic laws and international treaty requirements to ensure these global marine resources are available for future generations. Key laws enforced are the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act.

Minimum Requirements:

The Office of Law Enforcement Jacksonville Field Office, replaces the former Port Orange, FL office and will ultimately house three (3) law enforcement officials, one of which is the District One supervisor (ZA, Band 4 supervisor), and requires space for the storage of evidence and conducting interviews in support of official law enforcement investigations.. Due to the secure mission, cleaning access will be required during working hours for escorted access within the space. Space will require high security locks and special access system, security cameras, and appropriate alarm systems.

Delineated Area:

Within Duval and St Johns Counties, Florida, bounded by:

North: State Road 152;

East: US-1/State Road 9B South: County Road 210 West: State Road 13

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration gave consideration to the central business area (CBA).

X The CBA cannot meet our agency’s space needs for the following reasons:

Access to the coastal fishing industry is critical to the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) mission. Proximity to the interstate away from the central business area with better access to coastal state routes is required in facilitating the NMFS’s mission. Many of NOAA’s stakeholders, owners/operators and captains work and reside along the coast and outside of the central business area. This office covers a fairly large geographical area. This includes North to Brunswick, GA and South to Titusville, FL. Therefore, a location south and east of Jacksonville, FL better serves the mission of the NMFS.

Parking for Government Vehicles This requirement requires three (3) parking permits (or parking spaces) for three (3) official government vehicles. The National Marine Fisheries Service mission is highly dependent on the use of vehicles, requiring access to coastal communities. Driving to the docks to board fishing vessels at any given hour of the day or night and returning at any given hour of the day or night is required. Thus, immediate parking access for GOV at the office is essential in performing official duties.

Because of a) the on-call status of the work being performed; b) the time sensitive response time; and, c) the lack of mass transit options, at all hours to piers, docks and commercial fishing locations; four parking spaces (permits) are required for the Government Owned Vehicles. At times, federal, state and local partners coordinate their activities at any given hour of the day or week. Possessing a permit (or parking space) to coordinate these activities by meeting at NOAA's office location assists in this manner.

FMR Part 10283, the Rural Development Act (RDA) The Rural Development Act (RDA) directs Federal agencies to give first priority to locating new offices and other Federal facilities in rural areas unless their mission or program requirements call for locations in an urban area.

NOAA has a requirement in Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville, Florida is well positioned along the east coast to support this law enforcement mission.