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News Articles: okefenokee

An aerial view of Twin Pines Minerals’ staging area in Charlton County.

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Former head of Fish and Wildlife Service goes to bat for Okefenokee

The former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently urged Gov. Brian Kemp to block a proposed mine near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on her way out the door.

February 11, 2025
|
By:
  • Dave Williams

Tagged as: 

  • News

Georgia Today: Grim milestone for inmates; Peanut crop numbers down; UNESCO in South Georgia

On the Thursday, Dec. 26 edition of Georgia Today: More in-custody deaths than in any other year for the Georgia Department of Corrections; Georgia's peanut crops were significantly smaller than usual; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a step closer to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site

December 26, 2024
|
By:
  • Peter Biello and
  • Jeremy Powell
Okefenokee Swamp

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Mining company vows to forge ahead when permitted despite feds’ Okefenokee Refuge expansion plan

The federal government is seeking public input on a proposal that would allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire property near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge that could soon be mined.

December 06, 2024
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Time is short to comment on state permits to mine near Okefenokee as environmental groups blast plan

More than 70,000 comments have already poured into the state Environmental Protection Division as the public comment period wraps up on draft permits greenlighting mining near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

April 08, 2024
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin
Blowups, barracks and houses of peat help form the mosaic that the Okefenokee presents from overhead. Credit: Justin Taylor

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Okefenokee mining moratorium bill fizzles

Despite momentum earlier in the 2024 session, the bill failed to get a final vote in the Senate.

April 01, 2024
|
By:
  • Mary Landers
Rena Peck paddles a canoe in the Okefenokee swamp

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Latest bill targeting strip mining near Okefenokee receives mixed reaction from environmentalists

A bill sponsored by Lake Park Republican Rep. John Corbett would block state regulators from accepting any new permit applications for dragline mining for heavy mineral sands in areas where permits have not been previously issued but would not stop an Alabama-based company from moving forward with a 582-acre demonstration proposal planned for Trail Ridge near the refuge.

February 22, 2024
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin
 Creature and Charlie were big hits with politicians and other Capitol visitors on Swamp Day. They are two baby alligators from the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Opponents of mine near Okefenokee consider options to stop it after state EPD issued draft permits

Late Friday afternoon, the state Environmental Protection Division announced its decision to issue draft permits to Twin Pines, triggering a 60-day public comment period. 

February 13, 2024
|
By:
  • Chaya Tong
The fate of a proposal to mine near the fragile Okefenokee Swamp lies with the state Department of Natural Resources.

Tagged as: 

  • News

Opponents of strip mining near Okefenokee Swamp wade into new campaign to pass protection bill

Opponents of the mining proposal are trying to ramp up pressure on lawmakers to pass a measure that some see as the best shot at protecting the ridge from mining. 

February 06, 2024
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin
Twin Pines Minerals’ staging site in Charlton County near the swamp.

Tagged as: 

  • News

Twin Pines Minerals fined $20K for exploratory work

Georgia's EPD alleges that the company that wants to mine near Okefenokee failed to get the required bonding, licensing for the early effort. 

January 24, 2024
|
By:
  • Mary Landers and
  • The Current
Rena Ann Peck

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

‘Okefenokee’ song released to raise awareness of mining threat

“Okefenokee,” a new song recorded by Michelle Malone, hopes to raise awareness of the threat of mining to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. 

December 11, 2023
|
By:
  • Collin Kelley
Okefenokee Swamp

Tagged as: 

  • News

Okefenokee Swamp refuge will be nominated for high-profile World Heritage designation

The National Park Service announced Friday that the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will be nominated as a World Heritage Site, which moves forward the proposal four decades after the refuge was first considered a contender for the honor. 

September 25, 2023
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin

Tagged as: 

  • News

Ossoff to state: Reject mining near Okefenokee

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff has reiterated his call for the state to reject permits for a planned titanium mine near the Okefenokee Swamp.

September 15, 2023
|
By:
  • Dave Williams
Blowups, barracks and houses of peat help form the mosaic that the Okefenokee presents from overhead. Credit: Justin Taylor

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Georgia’s hedge against climate change: the Okefenokee’s peat

Peat, the foundation of the Okefenokee Swamp and of wetlands around the world, serves as an important global hedge against climate change.

May 04, 2023
|
By:
  • Mary Landers
 Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia to kayak, hike, fish, and participate in other recreational activities. A federal lawsuit filed on Nov. 15 by environmental groups claims that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is violating the Clean Water Act by not protecting wetlands that are at risk of mining. Photo contributed by Joy Campbell

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Georgia lawmakers slogged through bipartisan attempts to protect Okefenokee, sinking in the end

The push by a large coalition of Georgia legislators to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from mining failed this session even before legislators could vote on a panel to study ways to protect the diverse wildlife refuge.

April 03, 2023
|
By:
  • Stanley Dunlap and
  • Aaleah McConnell
 Rep. John Corbett, a Lake Park Republican, speaks against a bill that would ban future mining applications at Trail Ridge near the Okefenokee Swamp as the bill sponsor, Rep. Darlene Taylor, sits to his left. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Supporters of mine near Okefenokee hint at lawsuit if Georgia lawmakers pass bill protecting swamp

The two sides battling in the nearly four-year saga over whether an Alabama company should be allowed to move forward with its plans to mine the site for titanium dioxide and zirconium were allowed to make their case to lawmakers during a two-hour public hearing held Tuesday. 

March 15, 2023
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin
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