Amid growing concerns over a controversial plan to drill for oil and gas near the Apalachicola River, two North Florida lawmakers have filed bills that would impose new approval standards on such projects.
Senator Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) and Representative Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe) introduced SB 1300 and HB 1143 on Wednesday, with the measures set for consideration during the legislative session beginning Tuesday.
The proposed legislation comes as environmental group Apalachicola Riverkeeper challenges a draft permit approved in April by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
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The permit, granted to the Louisiana-based Clearwater Land & Minerals Fla., would allow drilling in an unincorporated area of Calhoun County, located between Tallahassee and Panama City. Riverkeeper argues that the project poses a significant threat to the Apalachicola River and its surrounding ecosystem.
A key provision of the new bills is the implementation of a “balancing test” that the DEP would be required to consider before issuing permits for drilling projects within one mile of freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, or coastal shorelines. The balancing test is designed to assess the potential impact of accidents or blowouts on natural resources. According to the text of the bills, the test must evaluate “the ecological community’s current condition, hydrologic connection, uniqueness, location, fish and wildlife use, time lag and the potential costs of restoration,” in addition to any water quality impacts and disruption of ecological functions.
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“These bills aim to ensure that any decision to allow drilling in sensitive areas is made with full consideration of the environmental risks and potential restoration costs,” said a spokesperson for the lawmakers. “By instituting this balancing test, we can better protect Florida’s vital freshwater resources and the communities that depend on them.”
The challenge by Apalachicola Riverkeeper is currently pending before the state Division of Administrative Hearings, as local groups and environmental advocates continue to voice concerns over the potential for irreversible damage to the Apalachicola River.
With the legislative session set to commence on Tuesday, the fate of the proposed standards now rests with lawmakers who face a divided public opinion on energy development versus environmental protection.
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