headquartered in Altamonte Springs (Florida Public Service Commission 1981). 

 The Florida Telephone Corporation has 34 exchanges, but only two of these are 

 in Southwest Florida (Dade City and San Antonio, in Pasco County). The United 

 Telephone Company has 30 exchanges. Of the 18 in Southwest Florida, three are 

 in Charlotte County (Cape Haze, Port Charlotte, and Punta Gorda), five are in 

 Collier County (Everglades, Immokalee, Marco Island, Naples, and North 

 Naples), one is in DeSoto County (Arcadia), and nine are in Lee County (Boca 

 Grande, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Lehigh 

 Acres, North Fort Myers, Pine Island, and Sanibel-Captiva Islands). 



POTENTIAL ONSHORE IMPACTS OF OCS OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION 



No oil or gas is produced off the west coast of Florida, but a large 

 discovery would have a major effect on onshore industrial and commercial 

 development. During intense exploration, the influx of workers could cause 

 competition for existing residential units and industrial sites. If produc- 

 tion started, new residential construction probably would begin to meet the 

 housing needs of OCS related workers. In addition, some of the manufacturing 

 industries in the area probably would redirect their production to meet the 

 needs of offshore oil and gas operations. Other industries would likely con- 

 vert their operations to meet the new demands and a number of new support 

 industries might locate in the principal community or communities serving the 

 offshore operations. At worst, these developments could place a considerable 

 strain on the community and on public services, and cause degradation of the 

 natural environment. Recognizing this, Hoedecker stated that "potential envi- 

 ronmental hazards of onshore development are greater than those of offshore 

 development," and former Florida Attorney General Robert Shevin once recom- 

 mended "that before offshore oil drilling was approved, tough restriction be 

 placed on onshore development" (Hoedecker 1980). Only a few communities in 

 Southwest Florida would have much new onshore development. Inland and coastal 

 communities with inadequate harbors and channels (less than 18 to 25 ft 

 deep) and inadequate dock space would be little affected (Calder 1978). 



The five-phase sequence of the development of offshore oil and gas, if it 

 occurs, is (1) preliminary geophysical and geological surveys, (2) exploratory 

 drilling, (3) development, (4) production, and (5) decline (Calder 1978). 

 Geophysical surveys require few onshore support facilities, but exploratory 

 drilling usually requires adequate docking space and harbors. If exploratory 

 operations are on a large scale, suppliers of shore services and drilling- 

 related equipment will locate in the port area and subsidiary businesses are 

 likely to spring up. OCS oil and gas companies often choose to locate in 

 smaller communities because of the high cost of land in urban areas. 



After discovery, oil and gas development could cause severe stress on the 

 socioeconomic and natural environments (Calder 1978). The population increase 

 could cause housing shortages and transportation, school, and hospital ser- 

 vices would be strained. In the process, some valuable natural resources 

 would be threatened. 



Care must be taken during the developmental phase to avoid overcommitting 

 public facilities and services. After wells have become producing wells, the 

 need for labor, facilities, and services would decline rather sharply. With 



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