DEP CONTINUES HOLDING DAN A. HUGHES ACCOUNTABLE

Florida DEP Banner

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.

                                                                 ###