Fracking in Florida What It Is and Why

Fracking in Florida What It Is and Why It’s a Problem LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF FLORIDA

What We’re Going to Cover What is fracking? Why is it a problem? What is there to do? A special thanks to Conservancy of Southwest Florida for their help with this presentation. 2

The League of Women Voters We’re a nonpartisan political nonprofit organization Established in 1920 when women got the vote Men accepted since 1972 We serve voters and promote good governance We research, educate and advocate 3

Florida’s Unique Environment • Special species • Wetlands • Fresh-water aquifer 4

Florida’s Water Cycle Courtesy of Northwest Florida Water Management District 5

“FRACKING” is an unconventional natural gas and oil extraction process from rock layers deep underground.

What Comes with Fracking • • • Road building Pad clearing Truck trips Drilling Cementing • • Flowback waters Off-gassing Compressors Pipelines 7

What Else Can Come with Fracking • Contaminated water • Polluted air • High usage of water • • Noise Diesel pollution Methane leaks Earthquakes 8

Impacts on Vulnerable Areas Proposed drilling projects are often: Near residential homes In endangered species habitat In prime aquifer recharge areas Near sensitive wetlands or flowways In public conservation areas 9

Seismic Exploration 30 -ton trucks driving through Big Cypress National Preserve Pictures courtesy of Conservancy of Southwest Florida, article Tampa Bay Times, July 20, 2017 10

Mineral Rights vs. Surface Rights • Mineral rights and surface rights can be separate • Horizontal drilling can go up to 2 miles under homes and public land 11

Drilling Methods Photo from Workinfo. org AKA FRACKING

Fracking in South Florida • Fracking attempts in Collier County in 2013 • Company claimed “trade secrets” to hide fracking chemicals • Permits revoked Photo from Naples Daily News 13

Water Withdrawal Permit Collier County company was permitted to withdraw as much as 2, 000 households per year. 280. 32 million gallons a year 14

Contaminated Water Illustration from U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

Tale of Three Wells Water Supply Well Graphic by Al Granberg for Pro. Publica 16

Drilling Activity in Florida Southwest Florida Northwest Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 8/18/2017

Contaminated Water Supplies Possible contamination through production well or abandoned wells Graphic provided by Conservancy of Southwest Florida Production well with fracking underway Abandoned well with improperly plugged hole 18

Underground Oil Formations Sunniland is described by industry as “an overlooked oil resource play” 19

Permitting Problems Nonconforming ”workover" permits Need complete logs and records Need water source permits Abandoned boreholes must be accounted for DEP needs complete access for inspection and monitoring Permit fees must cover DEP monitoring costs Halt fracking until study completed Require drilling companies to cover remediation costs 20

What Can We Do? #1 Contact your legislators and encourage them to ban fracking statewide #2 Learn more about fracking and other environmental issues at LWVFL. org 21

THANK YOU We gratefully acknowledge the help of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in preparing of this presentation. OF FLORIDA www. lwvfl. org