Media Contacts
State Director, Environment Georgia
Mining could contaminate one of Peach State’s natural treasures
ATLANTA – The Georgia state legislature has closed the books on its 2023-24 session with no action to protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from titanium dioxide mining.
HB 71, a bill proposed by state House Natural Resources & Environment Committee Chairwoman Darlene Taylor and co-sponsored by more than half of her House colleagues, would have blocked mining on Trail Ridge, the eastern boundary of the Okefenokee, beyond a small, already-proposed test mine. The committee heard the legislation in 2023, but did not vote on it.
In the final days of the state Senate’s session, senators amended SB 132 to include a 3-year moratorium on new mining permits near the Okefenokee. The proposal passed the Georgia House 167 to 4 but failed to pass the Georgia Senate after it had been amended.
In response, Environment Georgia’s State Director Jennette Gayer said:
“Mining for titanium dioxide less than three miles from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will bring noise, unnaturally bright lights and toxic pollution to a pristine wilderness and threaten the area with wildfire and drought. Risking the beautiful Okefenokee for a mineral that can be mined elsewhere makes no sense. We are disappointed that the Georgia legislature failed to protect this breathtaking part of our state for future generations. But other elected officials have one last chance to do the right thing: Gov. Kemp should direct his EPD to deny draft permits and take action to permanently protect the Okefenokee from mining.”
Topics