City Commission moving forward with proposed ordinance to ban fracking

February 22, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The Tallahassee City Commission is moving forward with a proposed ordinance to ban fracking.

At Wednesday's City Commission meeting, Commission Nancy Miller and Mayor Andrew Gillum brought forth the proposed ordinance, which is intended to, "prohibit well stimulation to prevent any damage to the community and protect health, safety and welfare."

Commissioner Miller said her main concern with fracking, is water quality.

"Water is an asset just like oil or gas or anything else. So if we contaminate our water, we are going to be economically strangled. We just won't be able to support our population," she said.

No Commissioners expressed opposition to the ordinance, allowing it to be scheduled for public hearing. That'll take place on March 22.

Fracking entails sending high pressure liquid into the ground, opening up areas to pull oil out of.

February 21, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The Tallahassee City Commission will consider a proposed ordinance that would prohibit fracking within city limits at Wednesday's commission meeting.

The ordinance is intended to, "prohibit well stimulation to prevent any damage to the community and protect health, safety and welfare."

The ordinance is proposed by Commissioner Nancy Miller and Mayor Andrew Gillum. Miller said her reasoning for it is simple: water quality.

"Water is an asset just like oil or gas or anything else. So if we contaminate our water, we are going to be economically strangled. We just won't be able to support our population," she said.

Locally, Leon County and Wakulla Springs meet the surface of the Florida Aquifer, which is a main source of drinking water across the state of Florida.

"This just isn't the place (for fracking)," said Miller.

City leaders stood with cities across Florida in 2015, supporting a statewide ban on fracking. However, the legislation did not pass. Leon County does have rules on the book prohibiting fracking in any of its rural areas.

And, although Miller admits fracking may never actually happen in the city, said said it's important to have an ordinance presenting the City's stance.

"They'd have to drill through a whole lot of water to get to anything they could extract out of and I'm not thinking that would be a whole attractive option," she said. "(But it's important) because we need to get the message out. We just need to put on paper 'this is a bad idea, and this is why.'"

The Commission will meet on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at City Hall. If the Commission votes in favor of the ordinance, it will be scheduled for a public hearing.