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Save the wild heart of Georgia—the Okefenokee!

You may recall that last June, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers restored necessary federal oversight to the proposed Twin Pines Minerals mine in southern Georgia, only to reverse this good decision two months later after Twin Pines sued. The short-lived June 2022 decision would have restored wetlands protections by revoking a Trump-era determination that the Clean Water Act didn't apply to Twin Pines’ mining activity.

If this latest decision—which is being litigated—stands, the Twin Pines proposed mine will not face extensive federal environmental analysis, and only the state of Georgia will decide whether to allow the massive heavy minerals sand mine at the doorstep of the Okefenokee Wilderness and National Wildlife Refuge. We need you to speak up now to help protect the Okefenokee.

On January 19, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) released Twin Pines Minerals LLC’s draft Mining Land Use Plan (Draft Plan) and opened a 60-day public comment period—allowing concerned citizens and Okefenokee advocates to voice their concerns and opposition to Twin Pines’ mining proposal. Please let EPD know you oppose the proposed Twin Pines Minerals mine.

The Alabama-based mining company is attempting to operate an 8,000-acre mine at the doorstep of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a project that would devastate the ecological health of this iconic natural treasure. At more than 400,000 acres, the Okefenokee Swamp is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the eastern United States, one of the world’s largest still intact blackwater swamp ecosystems, and important habitat for native wildlife such as black bears, American alligators, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. Okefenokee is also an International Dark Sky Park and a National Natural Landmark, a designation reserved for “the best examples of biological and geological features” in the country. At 354,000 acres, the Okefenokee Wilderness makes up almost 90 percent of the refuge and is one of the largest Wilderness areas in the East.

Water is critical to the well-being of Okefenokee, which is recognized worldwide as a Wetland of International Importance. The proposed mine could impact thousands of acres of wetlands, which would forever change the unique ecosystem of the swamp. Wilderness values like solitude, silence, and remoteness could be impacted by the close proximity of industrial mining activity and associated development.

Wilderness Watch is a member of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 conservation organizations representing millions of members that have joined forces to save the Okefenokee from the proposed mine and other threats. Twin Pines’ proposed mining project has already drawn an unprecedented level of opposition—so far, more than 100,000 people from all 50 states and 36 countries have voiced their opposition to the mine, including thousands of Wilderness Watch members and supporters. It is critical that we step up once again and let the EPD know that jeopardizing the Okefenokee is unacceptable.

Please submit a public comment to EPD opposing the Twin Pines Minerals proposed mine before March 17.

Please tell GA EPD you oppose the Twin Pines Minerals proposed mine

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Tell the GA EPD that you oppose the Twin Pines Minerals proposed mine

Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Subject: Twin Pines Minerals draft Mining Land Use Plan

Message:

I respectfully request that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) deny Twin Pines Minerals, LLC, permission to operate a heavy mineral sand mine adjacent to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. The company has not proven that the Okefenokee Wilderness and National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marys River, and surrounding communities will not be harmed by the proposed mine. Twin Pines' proposal to mine for minerals deep into Trail Ridge adjacent to the National Wildlife Refuge will likely have lasting and irreversible negative impacts. The first phase of this harmful mine will eliminate roughly 300 acres of valuable wetlands, excavate up to 50 feet deep, withdraw millions of gallons of groundwater, release air and light pollutants into the International Dark Sky Park, and discharge wastewater into the St. Marys River basin. The company offers NO defensible assurances that its mining operations will protect the Okefenokee Swamp from permanent damage, that it will protect endangered species, or that it will safeguard the long-term interest of the people who depend on that environment. The Okefenokee Swamp is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the eastern United States, one of the world’s largest still intact blackwater swamp ecosystems, an International Dark Sky Park, and a National Natural Landmark. Congress also designated 353,981 acres of the Okefenokee as Wilderness under the protections of the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness values like solitude, silence, and remoteness could be impacted by the close proximity of industrial mining activity and associated development. The health of this rare natural treasure must not be put at risk by Twin Pines' mining proposal. If all this weren’t reason enough to reject this mine, Twin Pines has a bad track record throughout the Southeast, where the company and its associates have caused major environmental problems in the communities where they are operating and have provided regulators with misleading information. They must not be allowed to destroy the unique Okefenokee Wilderness and National Wildlife Refuge. Please deny Twin Pines Minerals permission to operate a heavy mineral sand mine adjacent to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. Thank you for your time and consideration of these comments.

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Save the wild heart of Georgia—the Okefenokee!

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