DEP TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT COLLIER COUNTY RESIDENTS

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2014

CONTACT: Deputy Press Secretary Dee Ann Miller, 850.519.2898, dee.ann.miller@dep.state.fl.us

DEP TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT COLLIER COUNTY RESIDENTS

~Continues to work to provide media access~

Collier County – DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. announced that water- quality testing at the Collier-Hogan well will begin today. However, Dan A. Hughes and Collier Resources denied members of the media access to the site. DEP is committed to transparency and will continue to press the companies to grant media access to the site.

“It was my intention that members of the press would accompany DEP experts as this site work was conducted in the spirit of transparency,” said DEP Secretary Vinyard. “Protecting Florida’s residents and the environment is my top priority. I remain committed to staying the course and installing groundwater-monitoring wells and collecting samples to assess the water quality near the Collier-Hogan well.”

While a formal press conference will not be held today, Danielle Irwin, deputy director of DEP’s Division of Water Resource Management, will be available for on-camera or one-on-one interviews to discuss today’s testing activities. To schedule interviews, contact Deputy Press Secretary Dee Ann Miller at 850-519-2898.

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