Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay

Environmental

As one of the first ports with a dedicated environmental program, our commitment to a healthy bay runs deep. We demonstrate daily that nature and industry can co-exist.
environmental

Natural Resources

Located on Tampa Bay, an estuary of national significance, our commitment to a healthy bay and surrounding habitat runs deep.

  • Creation of two islands in Hillsborough Bay, where material removed from shipping channels is stored. These islands have become home to globally significant populations of nesting birds, including the American Oystercatcher and Least Tern, some of the state’s rarest species.
  • We continue to find innovative beneficial uses for dredge spoil materials such as the filling of a deep oxygen-poor dredge hole in McKay Bay and beach nourishment projects.
  • Our award-winning restoration projects create tidal wetlands, mangrove forests, and improve water quality and habitat.
  • We work with our regional partners to support the ongoing recovery of Tampa Bay.

    Pollution Prevention

    Port Tampa Bay is committed to protecting the quality of the air and water in and around the Port by continuously working with our tenants and the Port community to minimize the impact of day-to-day operations.

    • Conducting annual storm water inspections and hosting annual pollution prevention trainings with our staff and tenants to protect our waterways.
    • Joining the “Hillsborough Trash Free Waters Partnership”, a commitment to keep out waters clean and beautiful for future generations.
    • Participation in coastal clean-ups through a partnership with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
    • Our annual Earth Day event, “The Great Port Clean-up” has resulted in over 1,000 volunteers annually who removed over 113,000 pounds of trash from our local waters.
    • Adoption of a “water goat” in McKay Bay, preventing thousands of pounds of float-able trash from entering Tampa Bay’s watershed.
    • Reducing air emissions by reducing the idling of trucks in and around port operations and the Construction of the Crosstown Connector, creating a dedicated truck lane from I-4 to the Port, reducing emissions and wear on local roads.
    • Upgraded gantry cranes are electric, rather than the traditional diesel cranes.
      Clean up volunteers
      mast

      Waste Reduction

      Port Tampa Bay is steering a steady course toward a sustainable future by reducing waste, conserving energy and raising our carbon consciousness.

      • Creation of an internal Maritime Sustainability Team (MaST).
      • Recent installation of water bottle filling stations and water dispensers at our headquarters, eliminating the cost and use of hundreds of plastic water bottles.
      • Implementation of an enhanced recycling program at our offices.
      • The Port conducted a detailed Energy Study resulting in significant efficiency updates to lighting, HVAC systems, and more, saving the port over $260,000 per year in energy costs.
      • Striving to find innovative beneficial use of dredge materials.
      • The entire Port is a designated Brownfield Redevelopment Area, and the Port has spent millions of dollars cleaning up legacy contaminated industrial sites for redevelopment.

        Resiliency and Readiness

        With determination, innovation and ingenuity, Port Tampa Bay is rising to the challenge of both acute and chronic stressors.

        • Working with local, state, federal partners, and the port community to build resiliency into our Port operations.
        • On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.
        • PTB is the first Port in the nation to be recognized as “Storm Ready” by the National Weather Service.
        • We host an annual hurricane exercise in advance of hurricane season.
        • Development of an off-site operations center which allows the port to operate its vital programs in the case the Port is shut down due to an emergency.
        • Constructed a new inland heavy weather building to store vital equipment and support emergency response as needs.
        • Conducted a vulnerability study and adaptation strategies.

        Managing Submerged Lands in the Port District

          • Unique to any Port in the Country, we own and manage of over 200,000 thousand acres of Sovereignty Submerged Lands in Hillsborough County, held in trust for the public.
          • PTB has marine construction permitting jurisdiction of certain waters in Hillsborough County.
          • PTB issues marine construction permits for docks, marinas, dredging, seawalls, living shoreline, etc.
          • Our Submerged Lands Management program and multiple restoration projects have added to the ongoing recovery of Tampa Bay’s habitat and water quality.
            CSX Tampa pic

            Environmental FAQs

            View All Department FAQs

            Who needs a marine construction permit?

            • Pursuant to Section 25(m) of the TPA Enabling Act, Tampa Port Authority, d/b/a Port Tampa Bay (PTB), permitting jurisdiction is for any proposed structures or work in Hillsborough County that is to be located at, on, waterward of, or over tidal or sovereign submerged water to the jurisdictional boundary of the mean or ordinary high water (M/OHW) elevation line for the project site. There are two types of PTB marine construction project reviews depending on the scope of work, either Minor Work or Standard Work.  Please visit our website at https://www.porttb.com/environmental / porttb.com to review our PTB Submerged Lands Management Rules, Engineering Standards for Submerged Land Utility Crossing (PTB Rule Addendum), Enabling Act, Marine Construction Summary, and other information.

            Please note, that your marine construction project may require separate application review submittal to the State of Florida (FDEP/ SWFWMD) and/or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or Hillsborough County/City for their permitting jurisdiction.  Any electrical work associated with the dock may also require a separate permit from Hillsborough County/City.

            If I am applying for a single-family residential property (not located in State of Florida Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve portion of Little Manatee River), how do I apply for marine construction Minor Work project through the EPC?

            If you wish to move forward with an application to perform this work (dock, lift, kayak launch, floating platform, maintenance dredge, etc.), the application and permit would be processed by the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) of Hillsborough County Wetlands Division, per the 2009 interlocal delegation agreement. The EPC has limited permitting delegation from PTB, the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which would otherwise require separate permitting from each regulatory agency.  The review through EPC allows for you to apply to them with 1 application, 1 review fee, and typically 1 permit issued to cover all three regulations.  Please visit the EPC’s Wetlands Division webpage for delegated Minor Work Application information (epchc.org / https://www.epchc.org/divisions/wetlands).

            What is your permitting jurisdiction over?

            Pursuant to Section 25(m) of the TPA Enabling Act, Tampa Port Authority, d/b/a Port Tampa Bay (PTB), permitting jurisdiction is for any proposed structures or work in Hillsborough County that is to be located at, on, waterward of, or over or under tidal or sovereign submerged water to the jurisdictional boundary of the mean or ordinary high water (M/OHW) elevation line for the project site.  Jurisdictional waters include tidally influenced waters, Lakes Thonotosassa & Keystone, and Hillsborough River, Little Manatee River, Alafia River and other natural creeks or streams.  Pursuant to our Enabling Act, "Waters of the district" means all waters lying within the port district which are affected by the ebb and flow of the tide; Lake Thonotosassa; Lake Keystone; and those portions of the Hillsborough River, Alafia River, and Little Manatee River within the port district upstream from Tampa Bay to the limits of sovereign submerged land ownership.

            Does installing a floating platform require a permit?

            Yes, prior to installing a floating platform, a marine construction permit authorizing placement of the floating structure is required (same as a fixed structure).