House, Senate move toward restricting oil drilling near Florida's coast

Lawsuit challenges state's landmark oil-field setbacks law

An oil and gas-related lawsuit filed against state government Wednesday challenges a landmark law banning new drilling or well maintenance within 3,200 feet of sensitive sites such as homes, potentially affecting 15,000 wells statewide.

Florida Senate Bill would limit oil drilling near coastlines

A bill in the Florida Legislature would require the Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate how oil and gas drilling blowouts or spills could impact coastal industries.  Senate Bill 1300 would prohibit drilling on or near most freshwater bodies and within one mile of the coastline and wildlife parks or reserves. It advanced through the Senate Committee on Rules Wednesday morning. Republican Senator Corey Simon sponsored the bill. He s…

Oil drilling ban along Apalachicola River passes unanimously in Florida House

North Florida beaches including this one at Grayton Beach State Park were among those threatened by the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill that polluted the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. (Via Florida State Parks)Amid growing concerns over a plan to drill for oil and gas near the Apalachicola River, a proposal by two North Florida lawmakers to ban oil exploration and drilling in that region passed unanimously in the Florida House on Wednesday. The bill (HB…

House, Senate move toward restricting oil drilling near Florida's coast

Supporters are hoping the Senate version will strengthen it's proposed protections to match the House.

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House Backs Oil Drilling Restrictions

With supporters arguing that Northwest Florida’s Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay need to be protected, the House on Wednesday passed a bill that would shield some environmentally sensitive areas from oil and gas drilling.