South Florida Removed from Bill to Allow Oil Exploration on State Lands

A bill that would allow public-private partnerships to seek oil or natural gas on state lands may be limited to the western Panhandle.

The House Committee on Appropriations gave its backing Wednesday to HB 695, which would authorize a state land-management agency to enter the public-private partnerships on state-owned lands after an amendment was added to limit the search area to lands west of Tallahassee.

Rep. Clay Ford, R-Gulf Breeze, the sponsor of the bill, said the amendment was to address concerns of South Florida groups about drilling in wetlands and the Florida Everglades.

The bill would allow the private company to drill if the yield can produce near-term revenue for the state.

The National Audubon Society continued to object to the bill, expressing concerns for the protection of the Blackwater River State Forest northeast of Pensacola.

The Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee supported a similar bill, SB 1158, on Monday.

The bills would change how the exploration is conducted -- by establishing the private-public partnerships -- through existing state land-management plans that outline oil and gas exploration.

The bill doesn't change the requirement that the governor and Cabinet would have to make the final approval if drilling is to be allowed.