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 Contacts:
(850) 595-3475 main number (850)595-1144 direct number
Environmental Analyst (850)595-3475 main number (850) 595-4572 direct number
Karen Spitsbergen Senior Office Assistant (850)595-3475 main number (850)595-3549 direct number Items of Interest Environmental Services DivisionMISSION: Our division helps to protect and enhance our natural and built environments through delivery of Air, Land, and Water resource management services. PROGRAMS:
Our division can find a knowledgeable speaker for your civic, social or school group.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I obtain approval to deploy reef materials in the Gulf of Mexico? A:Escambia County manages a federal artificial reefing permit issued to the county by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The County’s Environmental Permitting (EP) staff handles additional requests from citizens wishing to deploy personal reefs through an “authorization” process, based on the compatibility of the proposed materials as outlined in the Corps permit criteria. The county must receive the document “Application for Inspection of Materials for use as Artificial Reefs” to start the process. After applicant reviews the document, if it’s felt that the materials meet the Corps’ requirements, the form should be completed & send it in as instructed to schedule an inspection with staff. Q: Where can I deploy artificial reef materials? A:There are currently 2 Large Area Artificial Reef Sites (LAARS) located in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico (9 miles & greater offshore) that are authorized for deployment of artificial reef materials. One is LAARS East , east of Pensacola Pass, the other is LAARS West, west of Pensacola pass. LAARS East consists of an 11 X 7 mile area predominately used for public reefing projects such as the Oriskany Reef, Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge Reefs, I-10 Bridge Reefs, etc. The west site is a 7 X 6 mile area encouraged for the use of “personal” reefs. Artificial reef materials are currently not authorized to be placed outside the 2 LAARS areas, in inshore waters (bays, sounds, bayous) or in near-shore waters (Gulf of Mexico state waters, less than 9 miles offshore). More information regarding public reefs can be found at the following link: http://www.myescambia.com/Bureaus/CommunityServices/ArtificialReefs.html Q:Aren’t there reefs currently outside these federally approved areas & why can’t I put mine there? A:Many popular reefs are located outside these 2 federally authorized reefing areas. Reefs in these locations may have been placed their prior to permitting requirements, as part of previous reef permitting programs since expired (i.e. 1990’s) or current government projects, were placed their illegally (unpermitted), were sank accidentally on the way to their intended deployment site (Oops barge), or could have been moved there by previous storms. Deploying reefs in areas not authorized by the jurisdictional agency(s) or deploying reefs in the approved areas without a valid permit could result in removal or relocation of the reefs, enforcement action, &/or fines. Q:Who keeps my exact reef coordinates once I’ve deployed my reefs? A:The only agency that retains this information is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Once the applicant consults with the county & submits the required “Post Deployment Notification”, the County will confirm that the reef(s) were deployed within the authorized areas & will then mail the form/information confidentially to the Corps. Escambia County does not keep records of the applicant’s reef coordinates on file. Public reef coordinates are made available for public use but personal reef coordinates are not kept by the county or released to the public. Q:How long does it take to get an authorization & how long do I have to deploy my reefs once I get it? A:This information is relayed in further detail in the “Application” link in question #1, but basically if the proposed materials meet the permit conditions & no objections are received by the coordinating agencies, the authorization to deploy can be issued at the end of a 5 working-day inspection & commenting period. The applicant will then have 30 days to deploy the reef(s). The applicant’s coordination with the County is strongly encouraged throughout the permitting process to ensure permit compliance, answer any questions that may arise, & help facilitate delivery of the required reporting documents to the Corps. [The Environmental Permitting Division can be reached at (850) 595-3475 for any further questions.] Q:How do I apply for/obtain a county building permit for construction of water dependent structures such as docks, marinas, piers, boathouses, seawalls, etc? A:Per Escambia County’s Land Development Code (LDC) Article 2.02.00 “no development may commence without a valid Escambia County permit”. The Escambia County Building Inspections Department (BID) is the initial contact & permit submittal & issuance agency located at 3300 N Pace Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32501. Applicant will be required to draft a detailed site plan depicting the proposed structures on the parcel &/or over water as part of the permit application to BID. Once application is made, the Environmental Permitting (EP) staff will then partner with BID to review applications for marine & environmental concerns. If any issues arise, the County will coordinate with the applicant/agent to resolve. Once the project has met all applicable requirements of the County’s LDC, a permit can be issued & will be made available at the BID office. Correspondence between all parties shall remain open throughout the process until all requirements are met & a permit is issued. BID can be reached at (850) 595-3550 or visit their web link for additional permit information at: http://www.myescambia.com/Bureaus/DevelopmentServices/PermitsForms.html. Q:What if I already built the structure, do I still need to get a permit? A:Yes. If the applicant/agent/contractor built the structure without a valid County building permit, they will still need to apply to BID to for an after-the-fact permit. All structures must comply with county &/or state building codes in order to be deemed safe. Inspections on structures are made to ensure standards are met, therefore, without a building permit/application, inspectors would not have a mechanism to know/certify that a structure has been built to standards Q:How much does a permit cost? A:This information can be obtained by contacting the BID at the information provided above Q:What kind of standards will be required for building a dock/marina? What type of dock will I be allowed to build? A:The project will be reviewed for concurrency with performance standards set forth in Escambia County’s Land Development Code (LDC). Environmental Permitting will compare the proposal to requirements in Articles 7.05.00 Marina siting, 7.08.00 Marine/Estuarine/Riverine/Setback (MERS), & 7.13.00 Wetlands & Environmentally Sensitive Lands, respectively, when reviewing waterway structures for compliance. Specific LDC Article references can be found at www.municide.com & below are some basic diagrams showing structures conforming to County code.
Q: What other agencies do I need approval from to build my water-dependent structure? A:Additional permits &/or approvals for water oriented or depended structures will likely be required from other agencies or entities having jurisdiction in these areas, such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP 850-595-8300), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps 850-439-3474), homeowners associations & possibly others depending on aspects of the proposed project. Per LDC Article 2.02.02, “no development activity may commence in areas regulated by state & federal agencies unless all required state & federal permits have been obtained & copies provided to the county…” Environmental Consultants may also be utilized to help navigate the permitting processes but this is not a requirement. The Environmental Permitting Division can be reached at (850) 595-3475 for any further questions.
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