Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announces application period for Derelict Vessel Removal Grants
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the 2018 application dates for Derelict Vessel Removal Grants through a press release last week. The grants are part of an FWC- established program to provide funding to local governments for the removal of derelict vessels from the state’s public waters. The funding comes from an appropriation from the Florida legislature.
The application period for the Bulk Derelict Vessel Removal Grants opens on January 8 at 8:00 a.m. ET, and ends on February 21 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The application period for the Rapid Removal Grant Program opens January 8 at 8:00 a.m. and runs through November 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET (based on available funding).
All removal applications must demonstrate proof that due process was provided for each vessel’s owner-this includes an opportunity for the vessel owner to challenge the derelict vessel determination, either in criminal court or in an administrative hearing. If funding is available for a second or subsequent rounds of applications, new announcements will be made.
The grant guidelines and application form may be downloaded at: http://www.MyFWC.com/DVGrant.
For further information, please contact Phil Horning, Derelict Vessel Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section at 850.617.9540 or [email protected].