Yesterday, Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island) posted the agenda for the February 27 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. The agenda for this meeting does not include Sen. Dana Young’s (R-Tampa) fracking ban bill (SB 462).
Floridians Against Fracking, a statewide network of over 60 groups and 200 businesses, strongly disagrees with Senator Bradley’s decision to deny this bipartisan bill from moving to a full Senate floor vote.
Brian Lee, Floridians Against Fracking’s Legislative Director, stated “The fracking ban has broad, bipartisan support in both chambers because the people of Florida have been demanding it to protect our water, our tourism economy, and our natural resources. If a fracking ban does not end up on the governor’s desk to sign this session, the people of Florida will see that as a failure of leadership.”
The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources have already unanimously approved Sen. Young’s fracking ban bill. Sen. Bradley voted yes on this legislation as the chair of the Environmental Preservation and Conservation committee.
While the House counterpart bill has not yet been heard in any committee, the House has indicated that it would take up the Senate version of the bill if it should pass.
Although the clock is ticking on the traditional committee process, Senate President Joe Negron (R-Palm City) has the power to bring this bill up for a vote directly on the Senate floor, or in a future, unscheduled Appropriations Committee.
To date, 90 local communities in Florida have issues ordinances or resolutions against fracking in the state. Senate leadership would be wise to look to them for guidance on this important environmental, health, and quality of life issue.
This wide-ranging support should guide Sen. Bradley towards recognizing the importance of this bill. Instead, his misguided decision is playing into the hands of Big Oil and Gas and their agenda, which values profits over Florida’s water.
Fracking
Florida Senate Committee to Hear Fracking Ban
This evening, the Senate Environmental and Preservation Committee will hear Senate Bill 462, which bans fracking in Florida. The hearing comes less than a week after hundreds of Floridians flooded the Capitol to advocate for a fracking ban.
To date, 90 local measures have been passed opposing fracking, a dangerous oil and gas excavation method that involves stimulating wells with a mixture of water, sand and chemicals.
WHAT: The Senate ban fracking bill, SB 462, will be heard in its first committee
WHEN: 4:30 PM, Monday, February 5th, 2018 (Note: the fracking ban bill is scheduled for the end of the committee hearing)
WHERE: Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee, Mallory Horne Committee Room, 37 Senate Office Building
Livestream the meeting on the Florida Channel: https://thefloridachannel.org/
Senator Dana Young Reintroduces Legislation to Ban Fracking in Florida
Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) has filed legislation today that will ban fracking in Florida. SB462 bans fracking of all kinds including hydraulic fracking, acid fracking, and matrix-acidizing. Fracking is an oil extraction method that injects chemical-laden waters into oil wells for the purpose of breaking up rock to increase the amount of oil and gas extracted.
Senator Young said, “This is the second year I am introducing legislation to completely ban fracking in Florida. Last year we had tremendous bi-partisan support with 19 co-sponsors. I believe the Senate will support this important ban on fracking and I hope the House of Representatives will also come to the table to protect the environment.”
Representative Kathleen Peters (R-South Pasadena) who is sponsoring the legislation in the House of Representatives said, “Florida cannot afford to lose millions of gallons of water a day to perform the fracking process and we certainly cannot afford the risk fracking poses to our drinking water. Water is a key element to life and we must do everything we can to protect the quality of our water and the health of our citizens.”
Senator Young made a ban on fracking her legislative priority after citing several examples of fracking’s harmful effects on the environment, most notably ground water contamination. Young said, “Our state sits precariously atop fragile limestone formations. Physically fracturing and/or dissolving this geologic formation goes against all common sense. As a 6th generation Floridian and avid outdoorsman, I understand the importance of our environment and I believe we must join together and say ‘no’ to this harmful activity, before irreversible environmental damage is done.”
Senator Dana Young Introduces Legislation to Ban Fracking in Florida
Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) today filed Senate Bill 442, an act relating to advanced well stimulation treatments, which effectively bans fracking throughout Florida. The bill bans fracking of all types in Florida, including hydraulic fracking, acid fracking, and matrix acidizing.
“As a 6th generation Floridian and avid outdoorsman, I believe we must act quickly and decisively to protect our fragile environment from incompatible well stimulation practices in our state,” said Senator Young. She continued, “We have seen the detrimental impacts fracking has had in many states around the country, most notably Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. As Floridians, we must join together and say ‘no’ to this harmful activity, before irreversible environmental damage is done.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) said, “I am proud to support and co-sponsor this very important piece of legislation which will help keep our environment safe and protect our aquifer from being one accident away from becoming the next oil spill which would contaminate our drinking water for years to come,” he continued, “More than 75 counties and cities have passed ordinances and resolutions banning fracking and it is time their voice is heard on this issue and this bill gets a fair hearing in the Senate.”
Senator Gary Farmer (D-Lighthouse Point) said, “I am pleased to co-introduce this legislation that will finally ban all forms of fracking in our beautiful State. The time has finally come to end this dangerous practice. This bill represents the now bipartisan recognition that Florida’s unique geological makeup leaves our water-supply particularly vulnerable, and must be protected.”
Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) said, “I am proud to stand with Senator Young in supporting this important legislation which will put Florida’s future generations first and protect Florida’s vast natural resources.”
Representative Mike Miller (R-Orlando) who will sponsor the legislation in the House of Representatives said, “Florida’s natural beauty is what attracted me to this state over 40 years ago. My family and I have spent many vacations here enjoying and exploring it. Florida is a truly unique place and I will do my part to protect it and our clean water supply for future generations.”
House Minority Leader Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) said, “I’m proud to prime co-sponsor this great piece of legislation to ban the dangerous practice of fracking in Florida because we must do everything we can to ensure the long-term environmental and economic prosperity of our state.”
Fracking is an oil extraction method, which injects chemical-laden fluids into a well at pressures that exceed the fracture gradient of the rock formation for the purpose of increasing oil and gas production. Matrix acidizing involves injecting acids into the rock formation for the purpose of dissolving the formation to increase production of oil and gas.
In closing, Senator Young stated, “I have been fortunate to have grown up in a family with a very deep connection, understanding and appreciation of Florida’s beautiful natural environment. I have filed this bill for my children and for all the current and future generations of Floridians who I believe deserve to have this same opportunity.”
Support for Sen. Young's bill to ban fracking in Florida
State Senator Dana Young filed a bill this morning that would ban fracking in Florida. Over 75% of Floridians live in a city or county that has passed a resolution or ordinance opposing this dangerous drilling practice, including Dade City, Zephyrhills, Tampa, and Pinellas County.
Jennifer Rubiello, Environment Florida state director, issued the following statement:
“We applaud Senator Young for listening to her constituents and Floridians across the state who want a ban on fracking. A ban on fracking will ensure our communities, our health, and our environment are better protected. Floridians should celebrate this bill, pick up their phones, and tell their state senators to support it.”
