Florida's Department of Environmental Protection says it's planning to sue a Texas oil company for violating state drilling regulations at one of its wells located near the Everglades.
DEP says it will sue the Dan A. Hughes Company for failing to comply with demands after it was learned the company was using a fracking-like practice known as "acid stimulation" at the site.
The company has already announced it shut down operations at the disputed well site which is near endangered Florida panther habitat.
DEP Secretary Herschel Vinyard Jr. made the following announcement:
"DEP will file a lawsuit against the Dan A. Hughes Company to address violations at the Collier-Hogan well. After months of holding Dan A. Hughes accountable for unauthorized activities at the Collier-Hogan well site, it is clear that the Company has not taken seriously the Department’s demands to protect Collier County families or Florida’s natural resources. This suit will seek to shut down operations at the Collier-Hogan site, until pending completion of appropriate environmental testing.This lawsuit will be brought before a Collier County circuit court judge. In the lawsuit, the Department is seeking additional financial penalties and to shut down all the operations at the Collier-Hogan well. The Department will ensure Dan A. Hughes is accountable for its actions in the state of Florida."