Latest news with #TwinPinesMinerals
13 hours ago
- Business
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 Minerals 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." Twin Pines President Steven Ingle confirmed the sale through a spokesman, but declined to comment further. 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 Environmental Protection Division agreed, concluding last year that mining should have a 'minimal impact' on the refuge. The decisions by Georgia regulators played an outsize role in the Twin Pines project after environmental rollbacks during President Donald Trump's first term stripped the federal government of any oversight. Advocates battling Twin Pines said there is still a potential threat to the Okefenokee, with thousands of acres of privately owned land remaining unprotected. Georgia lawmakers have batted aside multiple attempts in recent years to prohibit mining near the refuge. 'There's maybe 30,000 acres that's still vulnerable outside the Okefenokee on Trail Ridge that needs to be conserved,' said Rena Ann Peck of the Georgia River Network. Josh Marks, an Atlanta environmental attorney who fought the mining project, called the land sale 'a huge victory.' But he also called on conservationists to redouble efforts for a state law protecting the Okefenokee and to keep pressure on other companies to refrain from mining near the refuge. Funderburke said the steep purchase price for Twin Pines' land was driven largely by its mineral-rich soils that would have been highly valued by other mining operations. Reaching a deal became more urgent with the company so close to obtaining its final permits. 'It became pretty clear once a draft permit was issued last year that this was the final exit ramp' to stopping the project, Funderburke said. He said his group was closing Friday on about 40% of the property that includes the 820-acre (332-hectare) site for which Twin Pines' had sought its mining permit. The Conservation Fund plans to close on the rest by the end of July. Funderburke said he hopes there is eventually a deal for the land to pass into government ownership and protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees the Okefenokee refuge, in January approved a plan to expand the refuge by buying up to 22,000 acres (8,900) along its perimeter from private owners. The proposal included land owned by Twin Pines. Negotiations with the Conservation Fund might explain why Twin Pines had yet to follow through on a financial commitment required before Georgia regulators could make a final decision on its mining permit. The Environmental Protection Division recently confirmed Twin Pines had been notified in February 2024 that it needed to set aside $2 million for future restoration of the mining site. The company never followed through in the 16 months before the sale was announced.
E&E News
16 hours ago
- 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.'
Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Land deal ends controversial mining fight near Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp
A contentious, years-long fight over a proposed mine next to one of the South's last truly wild places ended abruptly Friday, when a nonprofit group announced it would spend nearly $60 million to acquire thousands of acres of land near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in rural Georgia. The Conservation Fund, which works around the country to acquire and protect threatened landscapes, said it had agreed to purchase roughly 7,800 acres from Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals, as well as the underlying mineral rights. The landmark deal halted a proposed titanium mine on the site, which has been the subject of legal and political fights, as well as sustained criticism from advocacy groups, scientists, lawmakers and other citizens. The opponents argued that mining the mineral-rich area known as Trail Ridge would not only be risky but also environmentally reckless, given its proximity to the largest blackwater swamp in North America. 'This is the most important deal we've worked on,' said Stacy Funderburke, vice president of the central Southeast region for The Conservation Fund, who said the group felt compelled to end the prospect of mining near the Okefenokee. 'It's just a unique place.' Funderburke said the purchase came after about a year of negotiations, and was possible in part because of significant support from a number of individuals and philanthropic groups — including the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental protection and funded by the outdoor gear company Patagonia. Friday's news brought praise — and relief — from activists who had opposed the mine over the past 6 years. 'This is an incredibly special outcome, and there is no place more deserving than the Okefenokee,' Megan Huynh, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement Friday. 'Georgians sent a clear message to Twin Pines Minerals that mining next to the Okefenokee is an unacceptable risk. This wouldn't have been possible without a powerful coalition, and regular Georgians who were willing to stand up and defend a place as beloved as the Okefenokee.' The roughly 640-square-mile refuge in southeastern Georgia supports an astounding array of life, from black bears and red-cockaded woodpeckers to thousands of alligators. It is home to black gum trees and carnivorous plants with names such as hooded pitcher and golden trumpet. It is the headwaters for two rivers, the Suwannee and the St. Marys. And its vast peat deposits, formed by the slow decomposition of plants and 15 feet deep in places, store enormous amounts of carbon. Formed by a saucer-shaped depression left behind when the ocean retreated thousands of years ago, the Okefenokee is now a shallow, sprawling, mystical bog, fed almost entirely by rainwater — and a place that draws an estimated 800,000 annual visitors. 'Everything you see around us is old seafloor,' Michael Lusk, who manages the refuge on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told The Post during a visit last year. It is also a fragile ecosystem — one that proponents feared could easily be upended by a nearby mining operation. Twin Pines, which in an email declined to comment on Friday's land deal, initially sought permits in 2019 to mine roughly 2,400 acres near the southeastern corner of the swamp. The company later amended its requests and sought to operate on a 582-acre site, vowing that its investment would expand the local tax base and bring hundreds of good-paying jobs to an area where poverty runs deep. The company insisted that its operations to extract titanium dioxide — widely used as a pigment in paints, sunscreens and an array of other products — would not leave a lasting scar on the land or threaten the beloved swamp. It vowed to mine only a small portion at a time, to dig no deeper than 50 feet, and to operate no closer than 2.9 miles from the swamp. Last year, Georgia's Environmental Protection Division issued draft permits that, if finalized, would have allowed the project to move forward. In its responses to the tens of thousands of public comments it had received raising concerns about the mine, the agency wrote in part that it believed the proposed operation 'should have a minimal impact' on the swamp. Such findings did not assuage opponents, who included some local residents, admirers of the swamp far beyond Georgia's borders, and even the Biden administration. During one three-hour public hearing last year, nearly 100 people spoke passionately against the proposed project, as hundreds more listened in. No one spoke in favor. College students, grandparents, scientists, environmental activists, outdoor enthusiasts and local residents issued similar pleas, pleading with state officials to halt the project. They quoted the Bible, the Torah and University of Georgia hydrology findings. They described the Okefenokee as 'majestic,' 'sacred' and 'precious.' They called the idea of mining anywhere near it 'irresponsible,' 'heartbreaking' and 'shortsighted.' On Friday, Funderburke said the land deal should be fully complete by the end of July. Over time, he said, the group plans to manage the site for permanent conservation and allow public access. 'It felt like the most urgent thing was to stop the mining threat, which was imminent,' said Funderburke, who said he has been coming to the swamp each year for decades, often bringing along his daughters. 'There's just no other place like the Okefenokee.' Even as the most recent fight over the swamp's fate ended on Friday, advocates warned that it might not be the last such confrontation. In the 1990s, DuPont pursued plans to mine titanium dioxide across tens of thousands of acres in the area, which is home to significant deposits of titanium dioxide and other minerals. At the time, the federal government joined environmental groups, scientists and local residents to fight the plan. 'Titanium is a common mineral,' Bruce Babbitt, President Bill Clinton's interior secretary, said during a 1997 visit, 'while the Okefenokee is a very uncommon swamp.' DuPont eventually abandoned the project and donated 16,000 acres for conservation. Josh Marks, an environmental attorney who has fought mining near the swamp for decades, called Friday's land deal a 'huge victory' for 'our state's greatest natural treasure.' But, he warned in an email, 'The threat is not over by a long shot.' He implored state lawmakers to finally pass proposed legislation that would safeguard the Okefenokee from future mining, and for the governor to sign it, 'so that we don't have to keep having these fights every 20 years.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia lawmakers face a pivotal decision over a controversial mining ban: 'This moratorium horse has legs'
Georgia lawmakers have introduced two bills to protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from nearby mining activities, reported the Current GA. State Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) introduced H.B. 562, which would create a five-year pause on new mining on Trail Ridge, and H.B. 561, the Okefenokee Protection Act, which would ban future mining in the area completely. Coastal legislators Ron Stephens and Steven Sainz are backing the bills as co-sponsors. This legislation comes as Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals seeks permits to mine titanium dioxide and zirconium near the swamp. The company's plan would bring mining operations within three miles of the largest wildlife refuge in the Eastern U.S. If passed, the bills could make a real difference for our natural world. They would help safeguard Okefenokee's unique ecosystem, protect water flows that prevent drought and fire risks, and preserve a beloved outdoor destination that attracts visitors worldwide. Recent positive developments have built momentum for protecting the swamp. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service expanded potential refuge boundaries by 22,000 acres, opening the door for future conservation. And in December, Okefenokee received an official nomination for prestigious UN World Heritage Site status. Swamps and wetlands are two ecosystems that are among the most threatened by our planet's changing climate. In Louisiana, sea rise is threatening wetlands and swamps across the state. "It's great to see the legislature speaking out once again for the swamp in such an overwhelmingly bipartisan way," said Josh Marks, an Atlanta-based attorney who heads up Georgians for Okefenokee. Rena Ann Peck, executive director of Georgia Rivers, sees the moratorium bill as a practical step forward. "While the Okefenokee Act will not get a run, this moratorium horse has legs," she said. With 77 cosponsors already supporting the moratorium, Peck added: "It's certainly a concession in that it's not a ban on mining Trail Ridge in perpetuity — only for 5 years." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers reintroduce bills to protect Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge from mining
Members of the Georgia State House have once again introduced bills to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from mining threats. The Okefenokee was named a National Wildlife Refuge in 1937, and provides habitat for many threatened and endangered species, such as red-cockaded woodpeckers, wood storks, and indigo snakes. The swamp has been the subject of renewed conservation efforts after an Alabama-based company called Twin Pines Minerals, LLC announced plans for a mine. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Along the eastern rim of the swamp runs a line of ancient sand dunes called Trail Ridge. The sand is rich in minerals -- notably titanium dioxide. Twin Pines wants to mine it for use as a whitening agent for things like sunscreen, toothpaste and paint. The first 2025 bill, called the Okefenokee Protection Act (House Bill 561), would prohibit the state from permitting or renewing any surface mining operations at Trail Ridge. A second bill, HB 562, would place a five-year moratorium on mining along Trail Ridge. Both bills would still allow mining on Twin Pines Minerals, LLC's 'demonstration' area, which is awaiting final permit approval. The Georgia River Network says this temporary ban on areas of the swamp would allow state regulators and researchers time to evaluate how the Twin pines 'demonstration mine' impacts water levels in the swamp. A similar three-year moratorium passed in the House last year, but never went for a vote in the Senate. 'Both of these bills provide the opportunity for all the legislators and leadership to respond to their constituents to save the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from mining that would harm the swamp and swamp tourism upon which the economies of the local communities depend,' said Rena Ann Peck, executive director of Georgia Rivers. 'Here is another opportunity for the Georgia General Assembly and Governor Kemp to make real what Georgians want to see - the wild heart of Georgia - our Okefenokee Swamp and its Trail Ridge protected forever from mining - and get it done right this session.' RELATED STORIES Could titanium dioxide mining impact the Okefenokee Swamp? Here's what we've learned Georgia senator backs federal expansion of Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge US Department of Interior to nominate Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp as UNESCO World Heritage Site Some Charlton County leaders, including Commissioner Drew Jones, have advocated in favor of increased mining. He argued the mine will help the local economy by adding new jobs and products out of the county. 'We live by the mine, if it's going to affect someone's water, it's going to be mine, if there's going to be a wildfire, it's going to affect us,' said Jones last year. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is opposed to the Twin Pines mine. Last month, it made a final decision to further expand the Refuge's boundary by approximately 22,000 acres. FWS says the new lands will allow them to offer more public uses like hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and education programs to drive ecotourism in the community. The refuge welcomes more than 400,000 visitors each year. The Department of the Interior announced last year it is nominating the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to join the UNESCO World Heritage List, among attractions like the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal, and the Galapagos Islands. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
