MEDIA ADVISORY: Feb. 18, 2013 CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us  DEP AND FWC TO HOST PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL - Panama City and St. Petersburg meetings held to accept ideas for Florida’s projects - TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will host two public meetings this month as well as a webinar to gather input on the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council’s Path Forward document and Florida’s projects to be submitted to the Council for consideration.   A webinar will be held at noon EST Feb. 26. Public meetings will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City and 6 to 9 p.m. March 13 at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg. The Department, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will be presenting information on the state’s five priority areas for projects and will seek input on projects the public would like submitted to the Council for consideration for inclusion in the initial Comprehensive Plan. The RESTORE Act, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 2012 and signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012, created the Council and established several funding categories for the Clean Water Act civil and administrative penalties resulting from the Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20, 2010. The Council is required, after notice and opportunity for public comment, to publish an initial Comprehensive Plan by July 6, 2013.  The Path Forward document, which was released by the Council on Jan. 29, describes how the Council will build on the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force’s work and articulates the Council’s plan to collaboratively develop the initial Comprehensive Plan. The public may provide comments on the Path Forward document by email toRestoreCouncil@doc.gov.  In order to participate in the webinar, participants must register at, https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/727220354, by Feb. 25.  The meetings will take place: Webinar: Tuesday, Feb. 26 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST Panama City Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 28 Gulf Coast State College 5230 W. U.S. 98 6:00 p.m. CST Open House 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. CST Meeting & Public Comment St. Petersburg Meeting: Wednesday, March 13 Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Ave. SE 6:00 p.m. EST Open House 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST Meeting & Public Comment

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The Department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally-sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view the Department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us.

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