Tallahassee, FL -- On Thursday morning (April 25), Food & Water Watch, ReThink Energy Florida, and the Floridians Against Fracking will drop a giant art installation - approx 40 X 50 ft - in the Florida Capitol Courtyard to depict the oil-related spills that have plagued the state over the last 4 years. A rally at the art installation will occur at 1:30 pm and the art installation will remain in the Courtyard from 9am-5pm. Organizers will also have interview availability throughout the day.
A recently published analysis from Food & Water Watch [1] found that there have been at least 35 oil-related spills in the state over the last 4 years, averaging 9 spills per year. Spills containing oil and/or wastewater from oil production have occurred in Santa Rosa, Collier, Lee, and Hendry Counties in the last 4 years. Some of the worst spills that have occurred include:
- 2,000 gallons of wastewater and oil that spilled in Big Cypress National Preserve in October 2018.
- 9,744 gallons of wastewater spilled in Santa Rosa County and contaminated Bray Mill Creek after a pipeline broke.
Clean water activists will remind Governor DeSantis of the promise he made to advocate for a ban on fracking and will urge him to ensure the state passes a ban bill this session that includes all forms of fracking. If fracking is not banned and is instead used more widely in the state, the occurrence of oil-related spills is likely to increase.
What: Florida’s Oil Spills Art Installation and Rally
When: Thursday, April 25th 9-5pm; Rally at 1:30 pm
Interview availabilities throughout the day
Where: Florida Capitol Courtyard
Who:
- Food & Water Watch
- ReThink Energy Florida
- Floridians Against Fracking Coalition