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By Jonathan Webber
Conservation Campaign Manager
Published January 30, 2012
This article is from ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Florida
. Find ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ near you here.
With support from the Florida Petroleum Council and Associated Industries of Florida, by Rep. Ford (R-Gulf Breeze) passed the and will now move on to Appropriations. This bill and its Senate companion, by Sen. Evers (R-Crestview), creates a mechanism for public land managers to entertain proposals for oil and gas leases on public uplands. Largely thought to be intended for public lands in NW Florida like Blackwater State Forest (a recent Florida's Special Places nominee), this bill would be applicable statewide, including Southwest Florida where commercial oil and gas extraction is currently active.
The Senate bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing in the Senate, where if it is scheduled, the will be a key battleground committee for conservation interests. This issue is still developing; stay tuned for more this week on how best to lend your voice to this issue.