The Big Cypress National Preserve is looking into federal wilderness protections, but there are exemptions for oil and gas exploration.
The preserve is looking at what lands could be designated as protected under the federal Wilderness Act.
Preserve staff met this month to look over which parts of the Big Cypress could be eligible. This process only looks at land set aside for the original preserve in 1974.
Congress would have to approve the designations.
Spokesperson Bob Degross said restrictions placed on federally designated wilderness include banning the use of off-road vehicles. DeGross said it’s doesn’t mean the land would be off limits.
“It’s still a place that people can explore, it’s still a place that people can get out into. Wilderness in no way is closed to access for human beings. It’s just that to access the area, you would have to hike into the area,” he said.
Hunting would still be allowed.
The designation would also not affect oil and gas production in the preserve. Collier Resources owns mineral rights under large tracts of the land and leases its rights to other companies.
DeGross said the preserve has received a draft of a plan for exploration within the reserve by the Texas-based Burnett Oil Company. If a company wants to access mineral rights on land designated as wilderness it has to reach an agreement with the preserve to do so in a way with the least amount of impact.
DeGross said he expects the preserve will produce a draft assessment detailing what pieces of the preserve are eligible to be designated as wilderness by early next year.
