Florida rejects oil drilling proposal in Big Cypress Swamp

Share
oil drilling rig
Oil rig. By Alexey Zakirov via Getty Images for WMNF News.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday agreed with an administrative law judge and issued a final order rejecting a proposal to drill an exploratory oil well in Collier County.

Judge Francine Ffolkes, in a recommended order in March, said Trend Exploration, LLC, had not shown a likelihood of finding oil in an area of the Big Cypress Swamp.

Ffolkes wrote that other drilling projects near the proposed site had failed.

“The preponderance of the evidence in this case establishes there is no proven or indicated likelihood of the presence of oil on a commercially profitable basis,” the recommended order said. “The greater weight of the evidence warrants against the exploration and extraction of oil in this case.”

Trend Exploration applied for a drilling permit in March 2021, but the Department of Environmental Protection denied the proposal in November 2021.

The issue then went to the state Division of Administrative Hearings.

Under administrative law, Ffolkes’ recommended order had to go back to the department for a final decision.

Thursday’s order, signed by Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton, approved the judge’s recommendation “in its entirety.”

If Trend Exploration wants to continue pursuing the permit, it could take the case to the 1st District Court of Appeal.

©2023 The News Service of Florida

You may also like

Tropical Storm Rafael forms, watches issued for parts of Florida

Tropical Storm Rafael could reach category two hurricane status just...

Talking Animals: veteran advocate delivers anatomy of a victorious, major animal rights campaign

Jodie Wiederkehr, Executive Director of Chicago Alliance for Animals ...

Fascist violence and the truth laid bare

Commemorative in Ocoee, FL marking racist election day violence in...

The 2024 Veganic Summit with Meg Kelly

Join Anni and Tanja to discuss organic gardening, farming and...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

The Waking Hours
Player position: