Post on 03-Aug-2020
FSBPA 2008 Annual Conference, Captiva Island
The federal process: Working harder and smarter,
together
Florida and ASBPA – the beginning
L.H. Atkinson of Florida was on the first ASBPA board of directors in 1926
July 1933 “Shore & Beach” journal article spotlighted “Conservation of Florida beaches and waterways – A general plan of organization and finance”
Florida and ASBPA -- now
Of current ASBPA officers:
VICE PRESIDENTThomas Campbell, P.E. Boca Raton, FL
TREASURERBrad Pickel Beaufort, SC
(formerly with Beaches of Walton County FL)
Our 2008 Florida-based directors
Michael Dombrowski DestinNicole Elko, Ph.D. Clearwater Deborah Flack TallahasseeSteve Higgins Fort LauderdaleD.T. Minich St. PetersburgMichael Walther Vero Beach
ASBPA Advisory BoardRobert Dean Gainesville
William Stronge Fort Lauderdale
• 53% of Americans live in coastal counties• 2015 coastal population -- 165 million • Daily average, gaining 3,600 people• Produces 32% of America's gross
domestic product
America’s coasts now
Local letterto the Corpsto start process
1 – 3 years
Civil Works project development process
Project identification phase
Authority - Congress!Study resolutionsWRDA billsStanding authoritiesAppropriations bills
Appropriations Bill
$100K for a Reconn. Study
BeginFeasibility
Study
Feasibility Funds ( GI )50 % - Federal
50 % - Non-Federal
Conduct Feasibility Study6 Steps & NEPA
Preferred Plan
Congressional Funding
Avg. total cost: $700,000-$2M 2-6 yrs. completion
Quality Assurance
District -Quality ControlInd. Tech. Review
Cost Shared
DivisionIndependent Peer
Review -Sect. 2034 WRDA 2007
Federally Funded
Civil Works project development process
Feasibility phase
Final Feasibility Report / NEPA
Division Review
Sponsor Approval
Civil Works project development process
Public and agency review phase
Chief of EngrsReport
2 – 3 years
Final Feasibility Report / NEPA
Corps HQ
Office of Water Project Review
Civil Works Review Board
Assist. Sec. of the Army for Civil Works
OMB
Senate Bill House Bill
Environment & Public Works
Committee
Every 2 years(in theory)
WRDA – Water Resources Development Act
Congressional authorization
ASA (CW)
Report Submission
President signs into law or Congress overrides veto
Energy & Water Development Appropriations Senate Bill House Bill
Appropriations Committee
Congressional funding
Project Partnership Agreement
Signed PPA
President signs into law or Congress overrides veto
What we learned in high school civics• Congress develops and adopts a budget, not
the president. Earmarks are how Congress exercises its constitutionally-directed “power of the purse”
• Eliminating earmarks will not save taxpayers federal dollars
• Congress isn't the only source of earmarks; the president submits hundreds of earmarksin his annual budget proposal
Congressional adds (aka earmarks)
• Congress specifies which studies and projects to spend nearly all the money it appropriates to the Corps
• Every beach project has a benefit-cost-ratio of greater than 1:1, which is more than can be said for most federal projects
• Earmarks are included in the federal funding bills currently under consideration in Congress
The problems we all face
• No new starts• Mature projects, what’s next?• Tight budget• Brain drain• Not enough research
No new starts: Administration policy
• President has not recommended funding of “new” beach & shore restoration projects since 1995
• Office of Management & Budget claimsthese projects are a “local responsibility”
Mature projects• Section 216 Study to review the operation
of a completed project and possibly recommend reauthorization.
• 3-5 years to complete and will require Congressional reauthorization.
• Cost shared 50/50 with the non-federal sponsor.
Mature projectsProject Current
May Be Affected: Start Date: End Date:
Broward County (seg. 2) 1970 2020Pinellas County 1969 2019(Treasure Island) Ft. Pierce Beach 1971 2021Dade County 1975 2025Palm Beach County 1973 2023(Delray segment)
Backlog of projects = Lack of agency resources
• For the FY09 Corps Civil Works program, the president requested $800 million LESSthen the amount appropriated by Congress in FY08
• The FY09 “need” of the total Corps Civil Works program is $10.33 billion; they’ll be lucky to get half that
Brain drain
• Corps strapped by personnel shortages and extended overseas deployments
• Future personnel reductions expected due to retiring staff and fewer new hires
Research & development
Research & Development Funding History(FY 2001 - 2008)
$20,000,000
$25,000,000
$30,000,000
$35,000,000
$40,000,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Fiscal Year
($)
FY09 Pres. Request House Bill Senate Bill$16,892,000 $16,892,000 $28,000,000
Federal coastal erosion funding
$0
$40
$80
$120
$160
$200
$240
$280
Mill
ions
of D
olla
rs
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Fiscal Year
Federal spending on beaches 1995-2008
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
$300,000
$350,000
Fund
ing
(in th
ousa
nds
of d
olla
rs)
Beach Economics 101
• Travel & tourism is America’s largest industry, employer and earner of foreign exchange
• America’s beaches -- top tourist destination
• Tourism produces $105 billion in annual tax revenue -- $35 billion in federal taxes alone
Visitors to Walton County, FL
Visitors from every single Congressional district!
America’s beaches vs. national parks
Beaches contributed $322 billion to the 2007American economy
That’s 13 times more than the $25 billion coming from America’s national parks!
Return on investment?
There are 7 times more visits to America’s beaches than visits to ALL National Park
Service properties combinedBut the annual federal investment in
beach restoration is only around $100 million…less than 4% of the $2.65 billion
budget of the National Park Service
Beaches a great national investment
Federal government collects $320 in tax revenues from beach tourists for every $1 it spends on beach restoration
The largest beneficiary of beach-related tax revenue is the federal government, not state or local governments
Beaches are a good insurance policy
• For every $1 invested in beach restoration, we have a $4 return in storm damage reduction benefits
Before and after pictures of my hometown of Caswell Beach, NC
Beaches need to be an American priority
• Germany spent about $3.3 billion over 40 years on shore protection, compared with U.S. expenditures of approximately $660 million over the same period – for a coastline less than 5% of the length of our coast!
• In one year, Japan spent $1.5 billion -- more than twice the total American expenditures over 40 years.
Working together, different focus• FSBPA -- federal and state funding,
specifically for Florida projects
• ASBPA -- funding and policy for all American beach restoration projects
• If only one state receives money, the process is doomed
• We need both!
Working together, different focus
• FSBPA focuses on the Army Corps Jacksonville and Mobile Districts
• ASBPA focuses on making the Army Corps more effective nationwide
• We need both!
But we can do more together!
• ASBPA is working to enhance federal beach policy so our efforts go beyond simply a storm damage reduction program
• Federal policy should reflect both the economic and recreational values of America’s beaches
• ASBPA is also working diligently with other interest groups to maximize our potential and avoid conflicts later
ASBPA governmental advocacy
Ensure that America’s beach issues are fairly represented
Educate Members of Congress and their staff on beach processes
Work with other coastal organizationsForge new coalitions with agencies
Science and technology form the basis for ASBPA policy positions
ASBPA supports:
• Appropriation of $288 million in FY09 for studies and beach restoration projects
• A common-sense approach to federal water resources policy that factors in the massive benefits of America’s beaches
US Access Board meets on beach access for persons with disabilities, July 2008
Meeting attendees included Steve Higgins, Mayor Harry Simmons and Tony Pratt of ASBPA; Peppino Persio and Greg Malon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and John Fay of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
ASBPA at CNN & The Weather Channel
◄ASBPA on
weather set at CNN
Following a productive meeting with Executive Producer Peter Dykstra (third from right) and two other
senior producers at CNN, we got the grand tour.
ASBPA Coastal SummitAnnual policy conference held each spring in Washington, DC
Policy presentations & discussionsMeetings with other coastal groupsEvents to enable coastal constituents
to interact with Members of Congress and staff
In 2009 we hope to engage more non-coastal Members of Congress
Plan to join us!Oct. 15-17, 2008
ASBPA’s 2008 National Coastal ConferenceHoliday Inn Mart Plaza, Chicago
March 25-27, 2009ASBPA’s 2009 Coastal Summit
Washington Court Hotel, Washington, DC
Contact Us
Online atwww.asbpa.org
Thank you!Questions?