Header photo of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia | Michael Lusk / USFWS
In the heart of south Georgia lies the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a sprawling landscape of over 400,000 acres. With its vibrant ecosystem and unique history, the refuge is a treasured national resource. However, the company Twin Pines Minerals has threatened to destroy this vital national wildlife refuge.
For the past few years, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has been fighting to protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from a destructive mining operation. The proposed mining project by Twin Pines Minerals could devastate the Okefenokee Swamp and its inhabitants, which include endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker and the eastern indigo snake.
In November 2022, the National Wildlife Refuge Association and other environmental partners filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Michael Connor, in his official capacity as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, seeking declaratory relief for their alleged arbitrary and capricious reinstatement of approved jurisdictional determinations in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. You can read more about the lawsuit here >>
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is not only ecologically important but also economically significant. The refuge attracts thousands of visitors each year, generating millions of dollars for the local economy. The proposed mining project would harm the environment and negatively impact the local economy.
Twin Pines recently released its draft mining land use plan along with a 60-day comment period for concerned citizens and Okefenokee advocates to voice their concerns and opposition to Twin Pines’ mining proposal. This is the most recent development in a long battle to protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from destructive mining operations. We must continue to stand up for this national treasure and urge Georgia’s Environmental Protection Agency to take action.
We cannot allow the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to be destroyed. Take action now and contact Georgia’s Environmental Protection Agency to demand that they protect the refuge for generations to come.
