Resolution 140-2015.—
Commissioner Carruthers
RESOLUTION NO. 140 - 2015
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING A BAN ON THE USE OF HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING, ACID FRACTURING, AND SIMILAR WELL
STIMULATION PROCESSES AND TREATMENTS
PERFORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLORATION OR
PRODUCTION OF ENERGY RESOURCES, ALSO KNOWN AS
"FRACKING ", IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, OR IN THE
FLORIDA KEYS OR ANY AREA THAT WOULD IMPACT
THE WATER SUPPLY OR WATERSHEDS OF THE FLORIDA
KEYS; PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE CLERK.
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
(hereinafter the "Board ") is the governing body of Monroe County (hereinafter the "County ");
and,
WHEREAS, the Board is charged with safeguarding the public health, safety, and
welfare of the residents of the County; and
WHEREAS, the wise stewardship of our natural resources involves the protection of
Florida's water supplies and natural environment for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) pipes potable water for the
Florida Keys from the mainland; and
WHEREAS, that water is pulled primarily from the Biscayne Aquifer as freshwater,
augmented when necessary by brackish water pulled from the Floridan Aquifer and desalinated
by FKAA; and
WHEREAS, the Biscayne Aquifer is a highly permeable unconfined aquifer; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys also contain several freshwater lenses that provide
drinking water for non -human species in the Keys; and
WHEREAS, the possible chemical contamination and environmental degradation caused
by fracking may result in grave irreparable damage to the groundwater that supplies potable
water to the residents, businesses and visitors to the Florida Keys and, by threatening our water
supply and watersheds, have disastrous effects on our environmentally sensitive plant life, and
marine life for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, protection of the environment is better accomplished by the prevention of
contamination and environmental degradation, as opposed to post- contamination, post -
degradation, or otherwise after - the -fact environmental cleanup and restoration; and
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WHEREAS, the Board finds that the exploration for and extraction of coal, natural gas,
petroleum, and other energy resources through means of well stimulation is a practice used in
energy exploration and extraction that involves treatment of a well to enhance production by
increasing the permeability of an underground geologic formation; and
WHEREAS, acid or hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," is a well stimulation
process that involves the high - pressure injection of complex fracturing fluids that contain a
mixture of chemicals, sand, and /or water into underground geological formations to create
fractures in order to enhance access to and increase flow of the production of coal, natural gas,
petroleum, and other energy resources; and
WHEREAS, the well stimulation process known as "fracking" involves vertical and /or
horizontal drilling, which creates a nuisance and negative environmental impact upon property
owners who reside on, or own property above, the drilling site, or who reside on or own property
adjacent to areas subjected to such drilling; and
WHEREAS, such vertical and/or horizontal drilling creates a nuisance and negative
environmental impact upon endangered, threatened, or otherwise vulnerable animal and plant
species and their habitat(s); and
WHEREAS, human exposure to the chemicals used in "fracking" poses a widespread
and significant risk to public health and safety, as "fracking" involves the deployment of
complex chemicals, many of which are known to be carcinogenic or have otherwise been
documented as having adverse effects upon human health; and
WHEREAS, use of fracturing mixes expose adjacent land and waters to the risk of
contamination through well activities, open pit storage, and transport on roadways, resulting in
heightened risk of contamination and irreparable damage to public health, safety, and
environment; and
WHEREAS, "fracking" is the subject of grave concern regarding the documented
irreparable damage to public health and safety and adverse environmental impacts of such
practice, including, but not limited to, the generation of air pollutants, the underground migration
of fracturing chemicals into nearshore waters and groundwater supplies, the generation of
hazardous radioactive or otherwise toxic waste, and increased seismic activity; and
WHEREAS, such harmful effects threaten the County's long -term economic well - being,
as both businesses and consumers depend on clean drinking water and the ecological integrity of
the natural environment; and
WHEREAS, the potential long -term and cumulative health and environmental impacts
of "fracking" pose a risk of irreparable danger to the public health, safety, and welfare of the
County's residents;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA that:
The above recitals are hereby incorporated into this resolution as if restated herein
and constitute the legislative findings and intent of the Board of County
Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida.
2. The Board supports a ban on the use of hydraulic fracturing, acid fracturing, and
similar well stimulation processes and treatments performed for the purpose of
exploration or production of energy resources, also known as "fracking ", in the
State of Florida, or in the Florida Keys, or any area where fracking would
possibly impact or threaten the water supply and watersheds or natural
environment of the Florida Keys, due to the potential harmful impacts on the
residents, environment, and natural resources of Monroe County, Florida.
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3. The Clerk for this Board shall furnish copies of this resolution to the Governor
and the legislative delegation for Monroe County as soon as reasonably possible.
4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said board held on the 10` day of June, 2015.
Mayor Danny L. Kolhage, District 1 Yes
Mavnr Prn Term Heather Carruthers, District 3 Yes
agent, District 2 Yes
, District 4 Yes
•phy, District 5 Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: r. Acw
NWor,D nny L. Kolhage
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