Response from RESTORE

Great that we got a response - not so great that it is a little confusing. BUT - the bottom line is that our funding opportunity for RESTORE funding which is from the BP oil spill.  The project is controlled by TCEQ with input from the Governor and the Government Land Office - GLO. I highlighted the different items that are key. What this means is that the buckets of money will be in the general programs such as beach erosion for Texas but the specific projects to be funded underneath that will be decided later - BASED UPON PUBLIC COMMENT - that is when we will get really active. 

I asked about what was just completed on the funding. Here is the response - 

Please note that the publication of the draft FPL 3b list is scheduled for later this year and Council members are in the process of finalizing the document.  Along with several other states, the Texas submissions that are expected to be included in the draft FPL 3b document will be programmatic and not project specific.  At this time, we anticipate the draft FPL 3b to be posted for public comment from mid-November 2020 thru the first week of January 2021.   

 

Final decisions about specific projects that would be considered for grant funds will not be made until after the FPL 3b document is approved in April 2021.  However, Texas expects that projects selected for grant funding will likely be based on the list of identified projects that were initially posted in September 2019 for public comment.  That document is on the Texas RESTORE website in the RESTORE Act Section, titled “Links to Past Documents.” 

 

I would recommend that when the RESTORE Council posts the draft FPL 3b for public comment that you take the opportunity to communicate your interest in funding, as part of an FPL 3b Texas program submission, a Sargent Beach erosion project.  Also, webinars will be conducted during the public comment period that will offer an opportunity for comment.  For updates on the posting of the draft FPL 3b document and the webinar schedule, please visit the Texas RESTORE website or the federal site at: https://restorethegulf.gov/ 



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