Another lawsuit has been filed against state environmental officials over the possible expansion of oil drilling in Southwest Florida.
A local wildlife advocate has filed another lawsuit against Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
On March 31st, Matthew Schwartz, the Executive Director of the South Florida Widlands Association, filed a complaint against Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) over an approved seismic testing permit in Collier and Hendry Counties.
Schwartz said the permit approved by the DEP on January 16 allows a Mississippi-based oil company to drill shot holes and set off explosions over a couple of months within 103,000 acres of private and public land. He said there have been sightings of the endangered Florida Panther in that area, and explosions have the potential to disrupt the species.
“These kinds of impacts on wildlife, on wetlands, have long-lasting repercussions,” he said. “Of course, the permit is not for drilling, but we know that’s coming. I mean the whole reason for doing seismic testing is to figure out a) where the oil is and b) to go and ahead and drill it.”
The complaint also notes DEP did not consult the Big Cypress Swamp Advisory Board before approving the permit. Schwartz said now that there’s a growing interest in looking for oil for in Southwest Florida, environmental officials should be especially thorough.
“State and federal agencies have a deep responsibility to be stewards of these lands, of the wildlife resources, of the water resources, of the vegetation—and they do not seem to be doing their job,” he said.
A spokesperson for the DEP said the petition is currently under review for sufficiency. The DEP has 15 days. If it is sufficient, an administrative hearing will be set.
