Oil | WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida

Burnett Oil Co. did not have a rendering of its proposed exploratory oil drilling facility it might build in the Everglades should permits be granted and oil deposits rich enough to be tapped are found. This is a photo of another company’s oil drilling operation in the Big Cypress Swamp Preserve in 2015.

Drilling firm challenging denial of oil exploration efforts in Big Cypress Swamp

Tom Bayles

Oil exploration firms are crossing paths trying to get permits to drill test wells in the greater Florida Everglades watershed, despite accusations that one of the firms, Burnett Oil Co., has left behind miles of scars in the environmentally-sensitive land during previous efforts. Trend Exploration of North Fort Myers, another firm that wants to drill for oil in Collier County, is challenging a November decision by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to deny it a permit the company sought to drill an exploratory well to seek oil reserves. Florida Division of Administrative Hearings Judge Francine Ffolkes is scheduled to hear Trend Exploration’s appeal.

A Texas oil company wants to expand oil production in the Big Cypress National Preserve beyond Racoon Point, shown here, which begain in the 1970s.

Army Corps Reverses Decision Finding Oil Exploration Damaged Big Cypress

Jenny Staletovich

A month after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said a Texas company searching for oil damaged wetlands in the Big Cypress National Preserve, the agency...

A Texas oil company wanted to expand oil drilling in Big Cypress National Preserve beyond drilling at Raccoon Point, which started in the 1970s.

Army Corps Finds Oil Search In Big Cypress Damaged Wetlands

Jenny Staletovich

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found a Texas company damaged wetlands in Big Cypress National Preserve during its search for oil. In a letter to...

A community divided over oil boom

Mia Laurenzo

Tuesday 9pm - INDEPENDENT LENS: My Country No More - Documentary - The rise and fall of the North Dakota oil boom, and a look at the long-term...

Oil And Gas Industry Pushes To ‘explore’ Off Florida

The Associated Press

A national coalition with deep Florida ties brought its message of supporting offshore oil and natural-gas “exploration” to Tallahassee on Wednesday, as...

Florida Leaders Blast Oil Drilling Changes

News Service of Florida

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation from both sides of the political aisle denounced a White House proposal Friday that they say would weaken...

Opponents in St. Augustine of oil and gas exploration

In Florida, Criticism Of Trump Move To Expand Offshore Oil Drilling

Amy Green

A Trump administration proposal vastly expanding offshore drilling is generating criticism in Florida. The proposal is the most expansive in decades. It...

Deepwater Horizon drilling platform on fire in 2010.

A Move To Ban Offshore Oil And Gas Drilling Gets Underway

Lynn Hatter

Florida voters could be asked to ban oil drilling off Florida’s coasts. The proposal got the green-light Thursday before a Constitution Revision...

Firm Seeks Renewed Permit To Explore For Oil In Big Cypress

The Associated Press

A Texas company has asked state environmental regulators to allow crews to resume their hunt for oil beneath Big Cypress National Preserve in southwest...

Fishing boats sit abandoned along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Small Counties Raise Concerns Over Application Process For BP Oil Money

Kate Payne

The private board in charge of handing out funds from the BP oil spill is developing its application process. But sparsely populated Gulf Coast counties...