Thursday, January 20, 2022

Drilling for oil in Big Cypress

 The highest point in Florida is 345 feet.  You don’t need much mountaineering skill to scale that hill.  Much of the state is just a few feet above sea level.  Florida is the state that will be (and is) most affected by rising sea levels.

Nonetheless the DeSantis Administration may allow the Burnett Oil Company of Texas to drill in Big Cypress National Preserve.  That is the area that adjoins the western boundary of the Everglades National Park. A “preserve” allows some activities that are not usually permitted in a national park, such as hunting if it is not considered detrimental to the preserve.  Under Trump, the EPA handed over the administration of Big Cypress to the DeSantis Administration.

Seven groups, led by Earthjustice filed suit a year ago to stop Florida from administering Big Cypress, claiming that the EPA’s action was illegal.  I think they will prevail.  I also think DeSantis is a tool of oil companies and hopes for campaign contributions for his presidential run.

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