Florida House Bill 695, “Development of Oil and Gas Resources,” sponsored by Rep. Clay Ford, R-Pensacola, is in the House Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 1158, sponsored by Sen Greg Evers, R-Baker, is on today’s agenda for the FL Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee.
The bills would allow state land management agencies to enter into public-private partnerships with a business entity to develop oil and gas resources on onshore state lands, under specified conditions. One is that the deal would have to provide near-term revenue to the state.
We urge President Obama to stop this, by allocating these areas to the National Park Service and ensuring they are Federally protected for future generations.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20120213/NEWS0120/302130010