Glades oil drilling fight resumes

A fight over oil drilling in the Everglades resumed Tuesday, when a Miami family that owns thousands of acres in western Broward County appealed the state’s rejection of its application for an exploratory well.

Kanter Real Estate LLC, which represents the family of South Florida real estate pioneer Joseph Kanter, filed a legal challenge to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's denial of a permit to drill a well six miles west of Miramar. Kanter's filing with the Fourth District Court of Appeal makes no legal arguments, which will come in a later filing.

“We are committed in our resolve to move forward with this project," said John Kanter, Joseph Kanter's son. "We’ve worked diligently to assure that our application met and exceeded all requirements for our permits."

The family's drilling application inspired strong opposition among environmentalists and city and county officials.

Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, whose city has joined the legal fight, said he and his colleagues are no less determined to stop the project. "We are resolved in our efforts to oppose any drilling in the Everglades that could harm our quality of life and the safety of our natural resources and water,” he said Tuesday. “It's unconscionable that there could be drilling just west of our city."

After DEP initially refused to issue a permit, the family appealed to the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, the first step in the appeals process. A judge issued an order in October recommending that DEP reverse its position, finding that project posed minimal risk to underground water supplies, would take place in an already degraded area and stood a good chance of finding a substantial amount of oil.

But last week, DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein issued a final order denying the permit, saying the department would not put at risk the "environmentally sensitive Everglades."

Kanter said the family has worked hard to fulfill all the requirements for permits to do the work.

"This has been validated by the administrative law judge who recommended issuance of our permits," he said. "We will ardently pursue our rights as landowners, and will continue to work towards this project’s safe and responsible completion.”