A Florida Senate bill that would require the state's Department of Environmental Protection to study and create regulations for fracking is essentially dead.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday refused to reconsider the bill after narrowly voting against it last week.
The bill had been kept alive on a procedural move, but the sponsor didn't ask the committee to vote on it again after it was clear it wouldn't be approved.
Opponents had concerns the method of oil and gas drilling could contaminate groundwater. Supporters said the practice of using chemicals and water to blast through rock to get to oil and gas underneath is already legal, and that the bill would ensure it was done safely.
The House already passed a similar bill.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
