County challenges oil drilling

NAPLES — Collier County commissioners plan to challenge the state after it approved a Texas-based company's request to explore oil drilling in the county.

Dan Hughes Co. plans to explore oil drilling in the Collier County, where several oil wells are currently in operation. In response to resident opposition, Collier County commissioners plan to challenge the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's approval of the firm's oil exploration project.

Commissioners complained that the state has been unwilling to participate in forums organized by the county to discuss the drilling project.

“This goes against everything all of us on the board of county commissioners stand for and that is an open public dialogue to learn what needs to be learned and take action where it needs to be taken,” says Collier County Commission Chairman Tom Henning in a statement.

A forum to discuss the project is scheduled for June 17, but state officials won't be available, Henning says. “At this point, we simply have not been provided with enough information directly from FDEP to answer any of our concerns or the community's,” says Henning.