Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 142757

Printable PDF Format

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 142757

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-54-15

Control: County Commission

File Name: URGING SUPPORT SB 166, BAN FRACKING

Introduced: 12/17/2014

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 1/21/2015

Agenda Date: 1/21/2015

Agenda Item Number: 11A21

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT SB 166 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION PROHIBITING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Indexes:

URGING

Sponsors:	Daniella Levine Cava, Prime Sponsor
	Bruno A. Barreiro, Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
	Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	1/21/2015	11A21	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Levine Cava noted she wished to thank those who came early this morning to speak in favor of this item; and Dr. Wanless for his presentation. She said that she had the opportunity to consult with Mr. Lee Hefty, Assistant Director, Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), Regulatory and Economic Resources Department (RER), and with Dr. Douglas Yoder, Deputy Director, Water and Sewer Department (WASD), who both indicated that such extraction techniques posed a great threat to Miami-Dade’s water supply and should not be used. Commissioner Diaz indicated that he also met with Mr. Lee Hefty. He pointed out that in the past, permits had been issued to allow hydraulic fracturing, but not to the same extent as was now sought. He noted Miami-Dade’s aquafer was extremely important to this community; and it should be treated with the utmost care. He said that he would like to learn more about this subject, but from the information that he had been able to gather, he would support the item. Commissioner Sosa commended Commissioner Levine Cava for bringing forth this item. She asked whether this urging was going to interfere with the County Commission’s previous policy that the County should encourage the use of natural gas. Commissioner Levine Cava noted at this point Miami-Dade was not drawing natural gas from fracking. She thanked Commissioner Sosa for bringing forth the sea level rise items, and said it was a coincidence that all of these items had been presented on the same day. Commissioner Suarez asked for clarification regarding the comment made earlier that fracking contaminants and residue may have found their way to Miami-Dade’s water supply. Mr. Hefty explained that drilling was carried out in Collier County using acid fracking, which generates a liquid waste. He noted that material was hauled to Miami-Dade and processed at a facility that is permitted by the County to treat industrial waste; and the discharge went to the sewer system. Hearing no further comments or questions, the Commission members proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution, as presented.

County Attorney	12/17/2014		Assigned	Javier Zapata

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT SB 166 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION PROHIBITING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

BODY
WHEREAS, hydraulic fracturing is the process of pumping a fluid into or under the surface of the ground in order to create factures in existing rock for the purpose of producing or recovering oil or gas; and
WHEREAS, Florida�s water supply comes from highly permeable limestone formations which are vulnerable to contamination from hydraulic rock-fracturing activities designed to extract hydrocarbons; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade gets all of its water from groundwater sources, including the Floridan Aquifer; and
WHEREAS, Florida�s oil and gas regulations, Chapter 377, Florida Statutes, and Rules 62C-25 through 30, Florida Administrative Code, make no reference to hydraulic fracturing; and
WHEREAS, in January 2014, an oil drilling company in Collier County was discovered to be using high-pressure injections of acid and water to blast open bedrock to gain access to oil reserves near underground aquifers; and
WHEREAS, in July 2014, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection revoked the drilling permits of the oil drilling company and fined the company $25,000; and
WHEREAS, hydraulic fracturing poses potential risks for contaminating the Floridan Aquifer, the source of drinking water for nearly 10 million Floridians; and
WHEREAS, this Board believes it is imperative to take measures to adequately protect our State and County�s water supply and environment through better regulation of oil drilling methods and extraction techniques; and
WHEREAS, voters in Florida overwhelmingly approved Florida Constitutional Amendment 1, the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, which is designed to protect Florida�s natural resources, including the state�s drinking water; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB) 166 would prohibit hydraulic fracturing in the State of Florida, and has been filed for consideration during the 2015 session of the Florida Legislature by Senators Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee) and Dwight Bullard (D-Cutler Bay); and
WHEREAS, this Board would like to express its support for SB 166 or similar legislation prohibiting hydraulic fracturing in the State of Florida,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to enact SB 166 or similar legislation prohibiting hydraulic fracturing in the State of Florida.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, State Senator Darren Soto, State Senator Dwight Bullard, and the Chair and remaining Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2015 State Legislative Package to include this item.