January 21, 2025
Apalachicola Riverkeeper continues to lead the legal fight to stop oil drilling by Clearwater Land and Minerals, near the Apalachicola River, in its floodplain and upstream of the Apalachicola Bay. Coalition partners and thousands of citizens remain strongly opposed to oil & gas drilling in the floodplain of the Apalachicola River.
Apalachicola Riverkeeper recently challenged the permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection to Clearwater Land and Minerals for exploratory oil drilling in Calhoun County. A hearing was held in December by the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings where attorneys for Apalachicola Riverkeeper presented the potential damaging impacts to the river, the hundred-year floodplain, and the overall ecology of the river system. The next few months will primarily consist of legal filings as outlined below. It is important that members continue to spread the word about our opposition to the oil drilling permits and encourage donations to pay our legal costs.
We have received an outpouring of support. Together, let’s build on the strong momentum to keep oil and gas drilling out of the floodplain of the Apalachicola River. Please donate today to support Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s continued fight to keep oil and gas drilling out of the Apalachicola River’s floodplain.
REMAINING PROCEDURAL STEPS
Although the hearing is completed, the work on the case is not yet over. Our legal team is busy preparing a proposed recommended order for the Administrative Law Judge’s review and consideration. A recommended order from the Administrative Law Judge is expected approximately 30 days after the filing of the proposed recommended orders. Our legal team will carefully review the recommended order and file some additional documents regarding the recommended order with DEP. A final order is expected within 90 days after the recommended order is issued. We would estimate that a final order will be issued by DEP sometime in Spring 2025.
ERP extensions UPDATE: An Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) is required before beginning any construction activity that would affect wetlands, alter surface water flows, or contribute to water pollution. Clearwater is requesting extensions for the ERP Permits for Pads 1, 3 and 5 originally permitted by Cholla. The ERP Permits allow them to build the pads and the stormwater facilities only. They do not authorize any drilling, which must be approved under a separate Oil and Gas Permit. The DEP is proposing to give them 5-year extensions of time for the ERP permits until December 2029.
Background on Clearwater Land and Minerals oil permit
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