Backround Information
The Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board (JEPB) was created in January of 1971 by Ordinance 70-1287-600, which established Chapter 73, Ordinance Code. In 1989, the Florida Legislature passed a special act, found in Article 11 of the City of Jacksonville Charter, to align the JEPB with the local program authority pursuant to Section 403.182, Florida Statutes. This “home rule” authority was renewed via House Bill 901 in 2001.
The JEPB was created as a Regulatory Board to be an impartial hearing platform for environmental matters in Jacksonville. During its history, the JEPB has implemented eight (8) local rules which adopt state and federal regulations as well as address local issues such as odor and noise. These rules are kept up to date as technical and regulatory changes occur.
The mission of the JEPB is to “Improve the quality of life in Jacksonville through conservation and protection of the natural and urban environment via Education, Awareness, Facilitation and Compliance”. The JEPB works closely with the Environmental Quality Division (EQD) of the Neighborhoods Department which is the operational arm of environmental regulation within the City of Jacksonville.
Environmental Protection Trust Fund
The Environmental Protection Fund (FUND), supervised by the JEPB, was established to be a repository of fines collected by the City for environmental compliance, as a result of administrative or judicial proceedings resulting from enforcement actions, as a result of punitive damages for environmental issues, civil penalties assessed for air, water and noise pollution and odors. There is also a provision for fines assessed from the regulation of regulated hazardous substances and from groundwater resources impacts. Local ordinance
Sec. 360.602 outlines that the fund shall be used for specific purposes:
- To pay the amounts necessary to restore the respective polluted areas which were the subjects of Board action pursuant to Section 360.408
- To pay for work needed to restore areas which require more money than the Board was able to obtain by court action or otherwise or to restore areas in which the Board sued but was unable to recover any moneys from the alleged violators.
- To recover the costs and expenses of the Board in administering the Fund.
- In remittitur to violators as provided in Section 360.408(i).
- To pay for the removal or remedial actions undertaken by the Director, pursuant to the authority of Section 360.408(b), not to exceed $50,000 for each occurrence, unless the Board approves a greater amount.
The primary purpose used by the JEPB to provide funding of environmental projects centers around the sixth authorization below:
- To fund education and outreach activities, studies, surveys, tests, and investigations, as necessary, to implement the duties of the Board, as defined in Section 73.102, Ordinance Code. Such education and outreach activities, studies, surveys, tests, and investigations may be conducted by the Department or by entities approved by the Board or by independent contractors and consultants retained for such purposes. Any studies, surveys, tests, and investigations shall be special projects of a unique, onetime nature, and shall not be continuing, or ongoing duties, or programs of the Department.
Funding Priorities
The JEPB’s four Focus Areas for potential funding are described below:
Surface Water – Restoring the river and its tributaries to health
- BMAP and Total Maximum Daily Load (TDML) Action Plan obligations
- Bacterial and nutrient levels
- Mercury & other metals in waterways
- Septic Tank Remediation and Phase-out
- Reduction of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)
- Living Shorelines
- Restoration projects
- Erosion & Sediment Control
- Reduction of Personal Pollution (washing cars, working with motors, fertilizer, pets, pest control, etc.)
- Hazardous material compliance
- LID & Green Infrastructure
- Resiliency
- Reduction of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)
Ground Water – Ensuring the protection of the aquifer to meet future water demand
- Hazardous material compliance
- Conservation efforts
- Well construction
- Florida-friendly landscaping
- Use of reclaimed water
- Water Supply Index
Ambient Air – Improving ambient air quality and reducing sources of pollution
- CO2 emissions
- Odor and Noise compliance
- Heat Index Reduction
- Greenhouse Gases Reduction
Education and Public Outreach
- Creating awareness of both the importance and methods of protecting of our environment through education, outreach, communication, and providing a public forum for discussion of the same.
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FUNDING REQUEST APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
1. Address to send a Funding Request
There is no specific application, or time frame to accept requests, at this time. If you are contemplating seeking funding for a project, you are encouraged to contact the JEPB Administrator, James Richardson, at
jrichard@coj.net.
Applicants should submit funding requests and other supporting information to
epb@coj.net.
2. Content and Form of Funding Request Submission
Complete funding requests should include the following elements:
- JEPB Focus Area to be targeted: Choose one of the 4 priority areas of the JEPB.
- Project Narrative: This is a brief description of the proposed project or activity.
- Environmental Impact or Stewardship: This should describe how the project will improve environmental conditions.
- Performance Measures: This should describe how the project impact will be measured.
3. Funding Restrictions
a. Award Funding Requirements
- An agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be required
- The JEPB may modify the funding request to include funding conditions
b. Indirect Costs
Application budgets may include indirect costs not to exceed a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs or may claim certain costs directly.