A bill aimed at creating a new regulatory structure for oil and gas drilling in Florida, including a controversial practice known as "hydraulic fracturing," which was easily passed on Tuesday despite some 50 environmentalists opposed to the measure The House of Representatives panel.

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee approved the bill (HB 191) by a straight 9-to-4 party vote. The bill was led by Representatives Ray Rodriguez (R-Estero) and Representative Cary Pigman R-Avon Park) submitted.

Fracturing is short for hydraulic fracturing and involves injecting water, sand and chemicals into the ground to form cracks in the rock formations, thereby releasing natural gas and oil.

The bill will establish a state's hydraulic fracturing permit process and require oil and gas companies to register the chemicals they use on the national website. It also requires companies to notify the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the chemicals they have injected into the ground-after the fact, not before. It will allocate $1 million to study the impact of hydraulic fracturing.

"I believe it has improved our environment in Florida," Rodriguez said.

Senator Garrett Richter of R-Naples is launching a similar bill in the Senate (SB 318).

The proposal was supported by the Florida Petroleum Commission, Florida United Industries, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, who believe that hydraulic fracturing will promote employment and energy independence.

"It changed America," Dave Mika of the Florida Petroleum Commission told the House panel. "It makes us an energy producer. It is reflected in the price your voters pay for gas stations."

"Will this create jobs in Florida? Of course it will," said Brewster Bevis of Florida United Industries.

But opponents say the bill is deceptive and that hydraulic fracturing will pollute the state’s groundwater and harm the health of people living near drilling operations.

"At its core is legislation aimed at promoting hydraulic fracturing in Florida," said AFL-CIO spokesperson Rich Templin.

  Ron Saff, an immunologist in Tallahassee, said people living near the fracturing well are getting sick.

"Of course, I think hydraulic fracturing will create more jobs for gravediggers, funeral homes and funeral homes," Saf said.

But R-Inverness Rep. Jimmy Smith disagreed with the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing.

"Hydraulic fracturing has been proven to be a safe process," he said. "Now, are some chemicals dangerous? Absolutely dangerous. But so are many things we use every day."

The bill will also prohibit local governments from implementing hydraulic fracturing regulations, and critics have also warned against this, saying that the clause will deprive local governments of their right to self-determination.

"I really think this is the cornerstone of conservative principles-the idea of ​​small government and local control," Templen said. "This legislation eliminates this."

But Rodriguez said he is working with the Florida County Association and the Florida City League to resolve their concerns about the bill. Florida has long been conducting oil drilling in parts of southwestern Florida and the Panhandle.

Opponents of the bill have little confidence that the Ministry of Environmental Protection will hold offenders accountable.

But after the public comment, Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (Jennifer Sullivan) rebuked environmentalists for basing their positions on "emotions and opinions" instead of trying to make constructive changes to the bill.

"You can't always oppose things," Smith agreed. "Progress will happen."

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