The Okefenokee is one of the greatest remaining natural treasures in the world and holds significant economic, ecological, and cultural value for the people of Georgia. We cannot risk long-term damage to the swamp for experimental, unsustainable mining projects, such as Twin Pines Minerals, LLC’s proposal to mine Trail Ridge.
This year alone we have fought for HB 71 (The Okefenokee Protection Act) and against HB 1338. Neither of these bills made it through Crossover Day. However, the House Rules Committee of the Georgia Legislature recently substituted language in Senate Bill (SB) 132 that would impose a statewide moratorium on new dragline mining permit applications to the Georgia EPD for three years. The bill stipulates that the moratorium may not be tolled or extended for any reason, but it does not ban future mining moratoria.
While OHM is supportive of moratoriums on mining to protect the Okefenokee Swamp, we oppose SB 132 because it institutes a meaningless moratorium (similar to HB 1338) that will not result in permanent or long-term protections for the Okefenokee Swamp against mining.
This bill recently passed in the House and is now moving back to the Senate for the final ‘agree.’ TAKE ACTION NOW to stop this useless bill parading under the guise of protecting the Swamp. Use the form below to contact (email and call!) your Senators and tell them to vote NO on SB 132!
The fight to protect the Okefenokee continues. Be sure to send in comments to the Environmental Protection Division on Twin Pines’ draft permits. Ask the EPD to protect the swamp and DENY Twin Pines permission to operate their demonstration mine on Trail Ridge. Deadline for public comments is April 9.