Senate Committee Tables Sister Fracking Ban Still With Major Loophole

Tallahassee, FL— “Today the Senate Committee on Agriculture temporarily tabled Senate Bill SPB 7064 after hearing overwhelming concern from water advocates at the bill’s hearing. This bill to ban fracking is drafted with the alarming loophole that would still allow matrix acidizing, one of the most dangerous forms of fracking.”

Environmental advocates are leery of any ban bill that does not protect Florida from all forms of fracking. The loophole included in this bill, and in the House Bill, that allows for matrix acidizing is a failure by leadership to adequately protect Floridians and their water from the dangers of toxic fracking chemicals."

It seems legislators have been duped by the oil industry’s claim that matrix acidizing is just a simple, routine clean up technique.  Matrix acidizing is not used to clean the oil pipes. Just like other dangerous fracking techniques, matrix acidizing uses toxic acids powerful enough to dissolve rocks deep underground in order to create pathways to oil deposits."

We, again, urge legislators to amend these bills to close all loopholes and ban all forms of fracking, including matrix acidizing."

We urge Governor DeSantis to reiterate his commitment during tomorrow’s State of the State address to protect Florida’s water by ensuring all forms of fracking are banned."