Latest news with #OkefenokeeSwamp
E&E News
21-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
$60M deal blocks mine near Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp
A high-profile, yearslong fight over a proposal to mine near the nation's largest blackwater swamp in Georgia has come to an end. The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit that buys at-risk lands for preservation, announced Friday that it paid about $60 million to buy land adjacent to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge where Twin Pines Minerals was pushing to mine for titanium, killing the project. In addition to almost 8,000 acres, the group also acquired the underlying mineral rights to the land, blocking mining along an area known as the Trail Ride — a long, sandy ridge formation adjacent to the refuge. Scientists and activists had warned mining there could damage the integrity of the swamp, as well as historical and cultural assets. Advertisement The Okefenokee Swamp, home to the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River, contains several endangered and threatened species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, wood stork and eastern indigo snake. Stacy Funderburke, the fund's vice president of the central Southeast region, said urgency to reach a deal ramped up after Georgia regulators issued a draft permit for the mine last year despite pushback from top Biden administration officials and celebrities like movie star Leonardo DiCaprio. '[There's been] a huge outcry, citizens across Georgia wanting to stop this,' Funderburke said. 'It became pretty clear once the draft permit was issued last year that there weren't many exit ramps left for them to take outside of some type of buyout.' Twin Metals did not respond to a request for comment. The Conservation Fund, Funderburke said, relied on its revolving fund to purchase the land, an effort that was backed by philanthropic groups including the James M. Cox Foundation and the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit that outdoor apparel giant Patagonia established. The fight that unfolded around Twin Metals' project underscored the difficulties of trying to mine in ecologically sensitive areas. The Birmingham, Alabama-based company has tried since 2019 to advance the project — facing pushback in court, in the state Legislature and on Capitol Hill — and was recently called on to set aside a $2 million surety bond for future restoration of the site. Twin Metals insisted the mining would be outside of the swamp and could be done safely and that the mine would produce titanium, a critical mineral used in defense equipment, spacecraft, automobiles, high-tech electronics, and other applications like paint and coatings. Focus now turns to the ongoing push for permanent protections for the swamp. The federally protected wildlife refuge was nominated under the Biden administration to be added to a list of globally treasured natural and cultural sites recognized by the United Nations. There are currently 26 such sites in the U.S. that have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites, including sites like Yellowstone and the Redwoods National and State Parks. The Interior Department did not immediately respond when asked whether the Trump administration backs such a designation. Sonny Perdue, a former two-term Georgia governor who led the Department of Agriculture during Trump's first term, called on the agency in April to support such a move. Funderburke said he's pursuing more protections for the swamp, while acknowledging other areas near the edge of Okefenokee remain open to mining exploration. 'There are still additional properties where there are future mining threats, so we will be paying close attention to that,' he said. 'But I do think this was the most imminent.'
Al Arabiya
20-06-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Conservation Group Makes $60M Land Deal to End Mining Threat Outside Okefenokee Swamp
A conservation group said Friday it has reached a $60 million deal to buy land outside the Okefenokee Swamp from a mining company that environmentalists spent years battling over a proposed mine that opponents feared could irreparably damage an ecological treasure. The Conservation Fund said it will buy all 7,700 acres (31.16 square kilometers) that Alabama-based Twin Pines owns outside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia, halting the company's mining plans. 'It's a big undertaking, but it was also an existential threat to the entire refuge,' said Stacy Funderburke, the Conservation Fund's vice president for the central Southeast. 'We've done larger deals for larger acres, but dollar-wise this is the largest deal we've ever done in Georgia.' A Twin Pines spokesman did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment. Twin Pines of Birmingham, Alabama, had worked since 2019 to obtain permits to mine titanium dioxide – a pigment used to whiten products from paint to toothpaste – less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the southeastern boundary of the Okefenokee refuge near the Georgia-Florida line. The Okefenokee is the largest US refuge east of the Mississippi River, covering nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) in southeast Georgia. It is home to abundant alligators, stilt-legged wood storks, and more than 400 other animal species. The mine appeared to be on the cusp of winning final approval early last year. Georgia regulators issued draft permits in February 2024 despite warnings from scientists that mining near the Okefenokee's bowl-like rim could damage its ability to hold water and increase the frequency of withering droughts. Twin Pines insisted it could mine without damaging the swamp. Regulators with the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection agreed, concluding last year that mining should have a minimal impact on the refuge. The agency revealed recently that work on final permits had stalled because Twin Pines had yet to submit a surety bond or equivalent financial assurance to show that it had $2 million set aside for future restoration of the mining site. It said the company was informed of the requirement 16 months ago.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Conservation group makes $60M land deal to end mining threat outside Okefenokee Swamp
A conservation group said Friday it has reached a $60 million deal to buy land outside the Okefenokee Swamp from a mining company that environmentalists spent years battling over a proposed mine that opponents feared could irreparably damage an ecological treasure. The Conservation Fund said it will buy all 7,700 acres (31.16 square kilometers) that Alabama-based Twin Pines owns outside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia, halting the company's mining plans. 'It's a big undertaking, but it was also an existential threat to the entire refuge," said Stacy Funderburke, the Conservation Fund's vice president for the central Southeast. 'We've done larger deals for larger acres, but dollar-wise this is the largest deal we've ever done in Georgia." A Twin Pines spokesman did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment. Twin Pines of Birmingham, Alabama, had worked since 2019 to obtain permits to mine titanium dioxide, a pigment used to whiten products from paint to toothpaste, less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the southeastern boundary of the Okefenokee refuge near the Georgia-Florida line. The Okefenokee is the largest U.S. refuge east of the Mississippi River, covering nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) in southeast Georgia. It is home to abundant alligators, stilt-legged wood storks and more than 400 other animal species. The mine appeared to be on the cusp of winning final approval early last year. Georgia regulators issued draft permits in February 2024 despite warnings from scientists that mining near the Okefenokee's bowl-like rim could damage its ability to hold water and increase the frequency of withering droughts. Twin Pines insisted it could mine without damaging the swamp. Regulators with the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection agreed, concluding last year that mining should have a 'minimal impact' on the refuge. The agency revealed recently that work on final permits had stalled because Twin Pines had yet to submit a surety bond or equivalent financial assurance to show that it had $2 million set aside for future restoration of the mining site. It said the company was informed of the requirement 16 months ago.
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Conservation group makes $60M land deal to end mining threat outside Okefenokee Swamp
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A conservation group said Friday it has reached a $60 million deal to buy land outside the Okefenokee Swamp from a mining company that environmentalists spent years battling over a proposed mine that opponents feared could irreparably damage an ecological treasure. The Conservation Fund said it will buy all 7,700 acres (31.16 square kilometers) that Alabama-based Twin Pines owns outside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia, halting the company's mining plans.
Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Conservation group makes $60M land deal to end mining threat outside Okefenokee Swamp
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A conservation group said Friday it has reached a $60 million deal to buy land outside the Okefenokee Swamp from a mining company that environmentalists spent years battling over a proposed mine that opponents feared could irreparably damage an ecological treasure. The Conservation Fund said it will buy all 7,700 acres (31.16 square kilometers) that Alabama-based Twin Pines owns outside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia, halting the company's mining plans. 'It's a big undertaking, but it was also an existential threat to the entire refuge,' said Stacy Funderburke, the Conservation Fund's vice president for the central Southeast. 'We've done larger deals for larger acres, but dollar-wise this is the largest deal we've ever done in Georgia.' A Twin Pines spokesman did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment. Twin Pines of Birmingham, Alabama, had worked since 2019 to obtain permits to mine titanium dioxide, a pigment used to whiten products from paint to toothpaste, less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the southeastern boundary of the Okefenokee refuge near the Georgia-Florida line. The Okefenokee is the largest U.S. refuge east of the Mississippi River, covering nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) in southeast Georgia. It is home to abundant alligators, stilt-legged wood storks and more than 400 other animal species. The mine appeared to be on the cusp of winning final approval early last year. Georgia regulators issued draft permits in February 2024 despite warnings from scientists that mining near the Okefenokee's bowl-like rim could damage its ability to hold water and increase the frequency of withering droughts. Twin Pines insisted it could mine without damaging the swamp. Regulators with the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection agreed, concluding last year that mining should have a 'minimal impact' on the refuge. The agency revealed recently that work on final permits had stalled because Twin Pines had yet to submit a surety bond or equivalent financial assurance to show that it had $2 million set aside for future restoration of the mining site. It said the company was informed of the requirement 16 months ago.
