We’ve heard for many years of the desire of many in the oil business to explore the possibility of leases in the Big Cypress National Preserve and in other parts of SW Florida. Today, the News-Press has reported that a DEP permit has been sought for drilling by a Texas based company on cattle grazing areas that are part of the Big Cypress Preserve. According to the application with DEP, fracking is not part of the proposal.
For years activists have fought successfully to keep big oil drilling from the most environmentally sensitive lands in the state. Initially Florida Republicans who in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s had an environmental streak fought along side Democrats to prevent additional leases from being issued in the area but now as the GOP becomes increasingly ideological and inflexible on issues it seems the political will to drill has increased regardless of environmental consequences.
With the large recent increase in domestic oil and natural gas production it is logical that Florida Republicans may look at this as an opportunity to raise more campaign cash from petroleum companies and continue their recent legacy of rewarding polluters. Then again, Florida Democrats have not been much better on the environment of late.
As the 2013 Legislative Session winds down keep an eye on this as a potential issue for 2014.
The Florida Squeeze 
We believe that stopping these wealthy business types is a tough nut especially with Mr. Scott running this show! Remember the cry “I’ll Do Away with the EPA”! Sounds familiar and from what Party of the Duopoly.
This new ploy again will be like the Keystone pipeline where they claim that all this new oil production will boost our supplies and lower the prices at the pump – but they again fail to say that it will be sold overseas not really helping this country.
Bill Nelson had an approach – where they have to specify how much oil etc will be used in this country and not sold over seas. Seems reasonable if you can wrap your head around a future oil spill in such an area!.
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This situation is serious and honestly the media has been asleep on this. Please keep writing about this and other Everglades related issues.
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You should add acceptance of oil drilling to your list of Jeb Bush legacy issues. This was never even a debatable topic until he made it so and opened the door for this.
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Unfortunately it is inevitable. Even the Demos don’t give a sh*t anymore.
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Crist was for this before he was against it.
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I don’t think Crist was ever for drilling in the Glades. He was opposed to offshore drilling as AG and then flipped on that as Governor when he was seeking the GOP nomination. I do not think he flipped on Everglades drilling.
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