TALLAHASSEE, Florida — State House and Senate bills that would restrict oil and gas drilling near the Apalachicola River and Bay advanced through committees Tuesday without opposition.
Details: The legislation was filed as a response to the state issuing a proposed permit last year for an exploratory oil drilling well 1.5 miles from the river.
The House bill, FL HB1143 (25R), would ban oil and gas drilling within 10 miles of the state’s three national estuarine research reserves, including Apalachicola Bay.
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State Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe), who represents Apalachicola, said his family is in the natural gas business and “no one can say I’m not a big fan of the industry.”
