A consortium of environmental advocacy groups is holding a Florida Fracking Summit Nov. 2 at Florida Gulf Coast University. The free day-long event is intended to educate the public about the impacts and risks of extracting oil through hydraulic fracturing in Florida’s unique geology and the state’s regulatory environment when it comes to oil exploration. Since 2013, the Florida Legislature has failed to pass a bill regulating fracking activity. The issue garnered public and media scrutiny in Southwest Florida after the Dan A. Hughes oil company was found to have used a fracking-like method to extract oil from the Collier Hogan Well near Lake Trafford in Collier County nearly three years ago. That incident raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Director of Natural Resource Policy Jennifer Hecker tells WGCU’s John Davis, the issue remains ongoing.
Fracking Summit Comes to SW Florida
Mary Crandall via Creative Commons
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Hecker reviews what occurred after the Dan A. Hughes company was first discovered to have had used an unauthorized fracking-like method to extract oil from the Collier Hogan well in Collier County in Dec. 2013.
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Hecker discusses a recent update about improper wastewater disposal at the Collier Hogan well in the process of plugging and closing the well.
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Hecker explains environmental concerns regarding Florida's regulatory system for approving conventional wells and how that can lead to unconventional oil extraction methods being used at those wells without public knowledge.
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Hecker says Florida's unique geology increases the risks posed by fracking activity compared to other regions of the country and explores what kind of state legislation aimed at regulating oil exploration that environmental advocates would support.
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Hecker explores the potential of future drilling activity at the Collier Hogan well near Lake Trafford.
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Hecker explores the economic impact of oil exploration in Florida.
