DeLand, FL – Concerns over Florida lawmakers pushing for fracking has Volusia County leaders saying “no” to the oil-gathering practice anywhere within its borders.
During Thursday’s meeting in DeLand, the Volusia County Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance banning fracking during its afternoon session after it was motioned by District 2 Representative Josh Wagner. At-Large Representative Joyce Cusack was the second.
Following some comments from members of the public urging the VCC to make a public stand on the practice during the morning session, Wagner called fracking “catastrophic” to Florida’s way of life and urged the rest of the council to pass a hastily-drafted ordinance created by the county’s legal department.
Wagner eventually got his wish, but not before District 3’s Deb Denys insisted the vote be delayed until the afternoon so that she and every other council member could read the ordinance in its entirety first.
“It isn’t responsible government to do this even if you agree with the issue,” Denys added.
Despite her misgivings over the process, Denys eventually sided with the other 6 council members.
District 1’s Pat Patterson – a former Tallahassee lawmaker – also noted during the meeting that he thinks a pro-fracking bill will likely die in the Florida Legislature before it passes.
Volusia becomes the second Sunshine State county to pass an anti-fracking ordinance. Broward was the first. Seminole and Wakulla are also considering a similar ordinance.
Opponents of the practice say fracking – a process designed to pull gas and oil by using a mix of high-pressure water, sand and other chemicals to crack open shale rocks underground – is dangerous to the environment, especially for water sources.
Those who support fracking say it’ll create more gas and oil and help keep prices for those 2 commodities low.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.