Broward Commission Opposes Fracking in Florida

DATE: June 24, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Jason Liechty, Environmental Projects Coordinator

Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division, Broward County

PHONE: 954-257-7408

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - The Broward County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution opposing the use of hydraulic and acid fracturing, also known as "fracking," for oil and gas extraction in Florida and called on the Florida Legislature to ban the practice statewide.

Hydraulic fracturing techniques involve the pumping of a complex mix of fluids and chemicals, including large volumes of water, under very high pressure into underground geological formations in order to recover oil or gas deposits. When acid is used to physically dissolve some of the underground rocks, the technique is called acid fracturing.

Many of the chemical constituents injected during fracturing have documented adverse effects on human health and the environment and there have been over 1,000 cases of water contamination reported near fracking sites. Given that much of Florida's water supply comes from underground aquifers through which water moves easily, fracking activities can pose risks for communities far from fracking sites.

"As a County, we need to be thinking about the long term for our water supply and our environment. By making a strong statement today that this Commission stands firmly against fracking, we are standing up for our aquifers and the everglades for generations to come. I hope that our fellow lawmakers across the state will follow Broward's lead on this critical issue," said Commissioner Beam Furr who brought the resolution to the Commission for a vote.

With the Biscayne and Floridan aquifers serving as the sole source of drinking water for Broward communities, Broward County has consistently taken strong measures to protect surface and groundwater resources from pollution and the introduction of contaminants. The Commission's formal opposition to fracking activities further reinforces efforts to ensure strong protections for the county's limited water sources and supplies.

During the 2015 regular session of the Florida Legislature, a bill which would have explicitly allowed fracking and forbade local governments from regulating the practice nearly passed both houses but died when the regular legislative session ended prematurely. In 2014, an oil drilling company in Collier County, due west of Broward County, was discovered to be using acid fracturing techniques, but as the state has no laws forbidding or regulating the practice, the company was eventually allowed to resume its fracking operations.

Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Monroe, St. Lucie, Alachua, Leon, Flagler, Hamilton, and Madison counties have also adopted resolutions opposing the use of fracking in Florida.