FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2014

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

DEP TO FILE SUIT AGAINST DAN A. HUGHES COMPANY TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS AT COLLIER-HOGAN

TALLAHASSEE – Today, as the July 15 deadline for Dan A. Hughes to comply with department demands comes to a close with its demands unfilled, DEP Secretary Herschel T. 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.”

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/c458e9