Curious but good news from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which denied a permit application from the oil drilling company of Trend Exploration.
This is so out of character that we somehow expect a trick and later approval.
Our DEP has such a solid history of protecting industry at the expense of the environment we find it hard to believe.
We hope it is true and will last.
Opposition to this permit was led by the Stone Crab Alliance , a very active environmental group in Southwest Florida.
The denial letter from the DEP can be found on their FaceBook page at the link above.
Read the original article here at WUSF News.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Everglades oil drilling well rejected by the state
State environmental regulators ruled the proposed well could impact water supplies and endangered species, such as the Florida panther.
The state has denied a request to dig exploratory oil wells near the Everglades.
A ruling by the state Department of Environmental Protection on Friday rejected the application by Trend Exploration of North Fort Myers. The letter states drilling the wells could adversely impact water supplies and wildlife in the area, which includes habitat for the endangered Florida panther.
The ruling determined:
- The proposed well is located in the environmentally sensitive Big Cypress watershed.
- It would be adjacent to areas that would likely be developed.
- The nearest drilling projects to the proposed sites were dry holes and there has been no exploratory drilling there in 40 years.
- There is “insufficient geological data” to indicate the likelihood of oil in the area.
- The company failed to ensure there would be no permanent impact on wildlife in the area, including rare and endangered species.
Opposition has come from people who say it could contaminate the water supply in the area and trucks would disrupt one of the prime habitats of the Florida panther. One person who wrote a letter to state regulators said there have been a large number of panther roadkills in areas surrounding the proposed well….
