Bonita Springs activists are bracing for lawsuits now that the city council has passed a fracking ban, the first of its kind in Florida in an active drilling area. The controversial oil and gas drilling technique was one of the hottest issues in the last legislative session.
Anti-fracking activist Karen Dwyer says heavy-hitters Earthjustice and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida are prepared to slug it out in court with the drilling industry and landowners.
“On the one hand, we’re prepared for a legal battle if it comes to that, but on the other hand, we’re hoping that it just compels counties across the state, as well as cities, to enact these local bans against fracking.”
Bonita Springs has no active drilling in city limits, but it sits atop the Suniland Trend, a vast reserve. Collier Resources owns mineral rights in Bonita Springs and drilling occurs within 10 miles. The company is threatening to sue.
