Local RESTORE Act Committee

Click to view the Accepted Walton County RESTORE Multi-Year Plan Amendment 01

About the Local RESTORE Act Committee

A Local RESTORE Act Committee has been established by Walton County to comply with federal law. In July 2012 the U.S. Congress passed the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act (RESTORE Act). The act is intended to help the states on the Gulf of Mexico recover and grow stronger after the tragic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Penalties assessed against the parties responsible for the spill will be a major portion of the funds needed for recovery and growth. The bulk of these penalty funds are divided into three portions called “Pots” designated to go to the following:

(1) directly to affected counties
(2) to a state level consortium
(3) to a regionally organized council

Walton County adopted Resolution 2013-25 on May 28, 2013 to provide guidance for its efforts and to establish a Local RESTORE Act Committee to assure public input to the process as required by the RESTORE Act. The committee of 11 unpaid volunteers from various constituencies in the county was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. It is tasked to solicit, evaluate and recommend projects and programs to be funded directly to the county (Pot #1). The Committee will develop an application format and process to implement guidance in the Act for Pot #1 funding.

The Committee will follow guidance from the RESTORE Act as well as specific evaluation criteria adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on May 14, 2013. Both federal guidance and the Walton County RESTORE Act Comprehensive Plan share these goals:

1. Restore, Protect and Conserve Habitat
2. Restore Water Quality
3. Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources
4. Enhance Community Resilience
5. Restore and Revitalize the County’s Economy

Meetings are scheduled as required. All meetings are publicly noticed and the public is encouraged to participate.

The Committee is made up of the following members representing the following categories:
 

• Chairman (Non-voting) - District 4 Commissioner Trey Nick
• Environmental – Jeff Talbert
• Coastal Restoration/Management – Duncan Greer
• Business North End of County – Bruce Naylor
• Business South End of County– Amy Stoyles
• Tourism Industry – Tim Pauls
• Fishing Industry – Curtis "Buddy" Gentry
• Health/Human Services – Crystal Steele
• Economic Development – Frank Schupp
• Community Leader – Vacant
• Educator – Cindy Neal
• Arts/Culture – Brandon Elkins