FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP CONTINUES HOLDING DAN A. HUGHES ACCOUNTABLE

~Presentation at Collier County Commission meeting details demands company must meet by July 15~

COLLIER COUNTY – Today, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. sent a letter to the Dan A. Hughes Company after they did not attend the Collier County Commission meeting on July 8, a requirement made by the department in an earlier demand letter sent to the Company.

"I am disappointed that the Dan A. Hughes Company was not present at the July 8, 2014, county commission meeting to address the numerous unanswered concerns regarding the company's current and future operations," Vinyard said. "Testifying at the meeting was one of the nine demands issued to Dan A. Hughes Company by the department. We will continue to hold them accountable and we expect that Collier Resources will do the same to ensure they meet the July 15, 2014, deadline."

Additionally, an attorney for Collier Resources attended the meeting and read a prepared statement from the company's executives that made certain commitments to the commission, the department and the families of Collier County regarding their oil and gas activities. Today, Secretary Vinyard responded to those commitments in a letter to the company.

                                                                 ###

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The Department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally-sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view the Department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/c30c6d