Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: Deny Mining Permits
American alligator hatchling swims through Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, GA |
Gulf fritillary butterfly at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, GA | Dennis Snowden
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s 600,000 acres in southwest Georgia are home to protected species and iconic wildlife like the American alligator and sandhill crane. The largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River, Okefenokee NWR features landscapes of freshwater swamps, prairies, and forests. Drawing 600,000 visitors each year, it is also a lynchpin of the local economy and helps support local businesses.
Despite Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s economic and environmental value, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD) is considering granting five permits for the excavation of heavy minerals from a proposed mine at Trail Ridge, less than 3 miles from the border of the Okefenokee NWR. Trail Ridge is the prehistoric sand dune that helped create the Okefenokee Swamp and confines its waters.
The Science
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has warned that a mining accident -- or just mine runoff -- could cause irreversible damage to pristine swampland within the Okefenokee NWR and greater Okefenokee Swamp ecosystem. Meanwhile, construction, mining activities, lighting, and transportation would significantly disrupt activities, hurting visitor numbers and the local economy.
Twin Pines Minerals LLC has a bad track record of environmental accidents across the Southeast and cannot be allowed to build their mine so close to one of the nation’s most vital national wildlife refuges. The potential for disaster is too great.
Take Action
Sandhill crane at Okefenokee National Wildilfe Refuge, GA
Stopping this mine requires actions on both a federal and state level. The Trump Administration released new regulations related to the Clean Water Act with the intent to limit federal control and oversight on such projects. The Biden Administration is considering reversing this decision, potentially bringing the project back under federal oversight. The National Wildlife Refuge Association is strongly urging the Biden Administration to reinstate the prior regulations.
Since reversing the Trump Administration’s regulations could take months or years, and the main concern in the interim is that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division could act during the current lack of federal oversight and approve the project. We need your help to convince the GEPD to deny this permit and protect Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge!
News
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a crown jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System, faces a critical juncture. A proposed strip mine, located a mere stone's throw from its borders, threatens to disrupt this irreplaceable ecosystem. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division recently released revised permits for the Twin Pines Minerals project after considering public comments from last year. These revised permits, however, do not adequately address the significant environmental risks the mine poses to Okefenokee NWR.