Title
Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Remediation - Funding Update (NB)
GRU has been notified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) that recent state budget changes have affected the availability of funds from the Petroleum Cleanup Preapproval (PCP) Program. GRU had anticipated obtaining FDEP authorization for approximately $3,000,000 in funding from the program by July 2009. Due to changes in the program, it is now unclear when PCP funding will be made available for the GRU MGP Remediation. A number of other critical projects are dependent on the MGP Remediation being completed on schedule; these include the proposed Cade Museum of Innovation and Technology, the Depot Avenue Reconstruction - Segment Three, the Depot Park Stormwater Ponds, the Depot Park Improvements and a portion of the FDOT's Main Street Improvements project.
Explanation
In 1990, GRU purchased the assets and liabilities of former Gainesville Gas Company (GGC). In 1992, a FDEP Consent Order was issued to the City to investigate and remediate the environmental impacts attributable to the Manufactured Gas Plant formerly operated by GGC. At this time GRU has finalized the remediation design, obtained the necessary FDEP and ACEPD approvals and has executed a contract with ECT as the specified source contractor.
On May 14, 2009, the FDEP published modifications to the PCP Program which immediately affected the availability of funds for the GRU MGP remediation project. Rather than a direct legislative appropriation from the Inland Protection Trust Fund, the FDEP PCP Program now has to obtain bond funding. Therefore the anticipated $3,000,000 in FDEP funds will not be available and authorized by this July 2009 as planned. Furthermore, at this time FDEP can confirm neither when nor how much funding might eventually be available for the GRU project from the PCP Program. Should GRU proceed with the work prior to the funds being authorized, then completed work is ...
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