Pinellas sets the stage for a countywide fracking ban

Media Contacts
Jennifer Rubiello

Environment Florida

CLEARWATER, Fla. —The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners voted today to move forward with a public hearing for the county’s ordinance banning fracking. Pinellas residents and representatives from Environment Florida, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Florida Food & Water Watch, the Sierra Club, the National Organization for Women, and local student groups spoke in support of the hearing and ordinance banning fracking.
 
“As we’ve seen across the country, fracking has been a nightmare for our drinking water, our open lands, and our climate,” said Jennifer Rubiello, state director with Environment Florida. “We’re glad to see the commissioners  standing up to protect the health and drinking water of Pinellas residents.”
 
The move comes as the City of Clearwater’s Environmental Advisory Board passed a motion urging the city to pass an ordinance banning fracking and fracking wastewater. The City of St. Petersburg is also currently drafting a citywide ordinance banning fracking and fracking wastewater.
 
The public hearing for Pinellas County’s ordinance banning fracking is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th, 2016.