The RESTORE Act is the result of British Petroleum (BP) and Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill event. On April 20, 2010, and for a total of 87 days; over 210 million US gallons of crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico. Subsequent to Federal Legislation and Civil penalties, States affected by the spill became eligible for grant money for environmental projects that have a regional impact on the environment and the restoration of ecosystems.
As City Council is aware, staff applied for grant funding through the Federal Government's RESTORE Act. The grant application process began with staff presenting and submitting a conceptual design for the Orange Lake Improvements Project to the RESTORE Act Advisory Committee (RAC). This board consists of nine (9) volunteer members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Subsequent to the RAC's approval, City staff and County staff worked on and submitted to the U.S. Department of Treasury the Orange Lake Improvements Project. This project calls out for the dredging of the Lake, the installation of pollution control structures, littoral shelf creations, diffusion system installation, flood gate for flood control, and boardwalks. On February 27, 2017 the U.S. Department of Treasury issued Pasco County the Notice of Award (NOA), for the Orange Lake Project. The NOA allocated grant funding in the amount of $100,000.00 restricted for use during the construction phase of the project. As part of the award, Pasco County has to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the City of New Port Richey. This agreement includes all of the terms and conditions of the Notice of Award agreement executed between Pasco County and the U.S. Department of Treasury.