To: Mr. Ed Garrett, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, The Florida State House, and The Florida State Senate
Stop Oil Drilling in SW Florida Neighborhoods and Wildlife Refuges
Preserve our paradise! Stop the Florida Department of Environmental Protection from approving oil exploration permits for oil drilling in Southwest Florida, like Permit No. 1353, which would impact neighborhoods and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
Why is this important?
Southwest Florida is known around the world as "paradise." We have miles of beaches, a thriving local economy, and year-round international tourism. It is home to the Florida Everglades, Big Cypress National Preserve, Picayune Strand State Forest, and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. There are many protected and endangered animal species who live in this area. The immediately proposed drill site is in Golden Gate Estates in Naples, Florida, and is very close in proximity of these protected preserves. Families live right next to the proposed drill site and call it home. Golden Gate Estates residents all produce their own drinking water from wells. Drilling for oil at this site would put our families and our sensitive ecosystem in great danger.
Dan A. Hughes Company of Beeville, Texas, applied for a permit for "oil and gas exploration" on 115,560 acres they have leased from the Barron Collier Companies.
Hughes representatives have been unable to assure us of our safety or that oil drilling will not compromise the safety and integrity of our environment. They have evaded the majority of our community's questions with the response, "I don't know, it's not us." When asked what they planned to do with the oil - if it would remain in the United States or be exported - they didn't know. When asked if it would create local jobs, they didn't know. When asked about if they would be fracking, they responded with, "we don't plan on it, but we can't speak for other companies." They wouldn't put anything in writing. When asked about the dangers to our families of polluted drinking water, hydrogen sulfide, fires, spills, industrial traffic, and noise, they responded with, "getting in your car every day puts you in danger." They have said "you never know how the Earth is going to respond" with nary a thought as to how people and other species can be endangered by the Earth's response. The citizens who live in Southwest Florida do not want oil drilling in our neighborhoods and our preserves. We want our voice to be heard. Please safeguard our families, our way of life, our protected and endangered wildlife, and our parks and national preserves. Please listen to us.
Please also register at our website: http://preserveourparadise.org
Thank you.