Two bills proposed in the Florida Legislature by Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero) would make it easier for oil and gas companies to conduct fracking in our state. We’re strongly against this legislation, and sent out an action this morning.
An emerging threat to Florida’s increasingly endangered water supply along with community health is fracking. Also known as hydraulic fracturing, fracking is the use of sand, water, and chemicals, injected at incredibly high pressures, to blast open rock deep beneath the surface of the earth to release trapped oil and gas.
Two bills proposed in the Florida Legislature by Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero) would make it easier for oil and gas companies to conduct fracking in our state. We’re strongly against this legislation, and sent out an action this morning:
Friend,
Two bills moving through the legislature would make it easier for the dangerous oil and gas extraction process known as fracking to take place in our state. Not only do these bills open the door to this disastrous, dangerous practice, they go so far as to even prevent the public from knowing what chemicals are being pumped into our land and water, jeopardizing the environment and health of our communities.
Act now to oppose fracking in Florida: click here to sign our petition to the legislature.
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is the use of sand, water, and chemicals, injected at incredibly high pressures, to blast open rock deep beneath the surface of the earth to release trapped oil and gas. This process is devastating communities across the country, and now the oil and gas industry has its sights set on Florida, particularly fields in the panhandle and just west of the Everglades.
While there are no planned fracking projects in Florida as of yet, these two bills (HB 71 and HB 157) would deny the public’s right to know the details of the chemical mix that is pumped into the ground during the fracking process. Last year, both bills died in the Florida Senate. The House is working hard again this year to move the bills and last week Republicans on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee approved legislation over unanimous opposition from Democrats and sent both bills to their next committee stops.
Because of the serious impacts fracking poses to our air, land and public health, the only legislation our legislators should be considering is a moratorium on fracking, not a welcome mat.
Let’s make sure the legislature hears us.
For our land and water,
Mark and the Progress Florida Team