SAVANNAH, Ga. — A federal organization announced on Friday that it has sanctioned a proposal to enlarge the Okefenokee Swamp’s extensive wildlife refuge. This development could lead to a buyout offer for land earmarked for a private mining initiative that conservation advocates have opposed for several years.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan includes the addition of 22,000 acres (approximately 8,900 hectares) along the perimeter of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, which holds the title of the largest federal refuge east of the Mississippi River. The agency, part of the Interior Department, is responsible for the management of the refuge.
“This minor expansion will bolster conservation efforts for the swamp and the threatened and endangered species that call it home,” stated Michael Lusk, the refuge manager, in a press release.
Property owners included in this expansion proposal would need to either consent to sell or donate their land to the federal government. This group includes the landowners of Twin Pines Minerals, a company nearing approval for state permits to mine minerals used in producing titanium dioxide, a compound commonly found in products like paints, paper, and toothpaste.
Environmental scientists have raised alarms that mining operations adjacent to the Okefenokee’s unique bowl-shaped rim could have irreversible consequences for the swamp’s water retention capabilities and may exacerbate drought conditions. In 2022, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland classified the proposed mining project as an “unacceptable risk” to the sensitive ecosystem at the border of Georgia and Florida.
The Fish and Wildlife Service finalized the expansion plan following a public comment period that commenced after the proposal was initially made known in October.
The decision arises as Twin Pines awaits the final verdict from Georgia environmental regulators regarding its mining venture, which lies less than three miles (about 4.8 kilometers) from the current boundary of the refuge.
Josh Marks, an environmental lawyer based in Atlanta and an opponent of the Twin Pines project, described the refuge expansion as a “crucial step forward in the protection of the Okefenokee Swamp from mining activities.” He urged Georgia authorities to reject the mining permits, expressing hope that Twin Pines would consider “donating or selling its property for conservation purposes.”
A spokesperson for Twin Pines indicated that the company president, Steve Ingle, had no remarks regarding the federal agency’s announcement. Their attorney, Lewis Jones, previously communicated with the Fish and Wildlife Service, assuring that the company would only “acquire property from willing sellers” and would not leverage the expansion plan to affect the state permitting process.
Having submitted its permit applications in 2019, Twin Pines maintains that its proposed mining activities can occur without adverse effects on the Okefenokee refuge.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued draft permits for this project earlier in the year, asserting that its analysis suggested “water levels in the swamp will be minimally impacted.” The final permits, which would enable Twin Pines to mine 773 acres (approximately 312 hectares), are still pending. The company possesses around 7,800 acres (3,150 hectares) outside the refuge and has indicated that it may pursue further expansion of its mining operations later on.
Covering nearly 630 square miles (about 1,630 square kilometers) in southeastern Georgia, the Okefenokee refuge is inhabited by over 400 animal species, including alligators and bald eagles. This rich wildlife, along with its cypress forests and flooded prairies, attracts around 400,000 visitors annually, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s management reports.
Ordinarily, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would also need to grant permits; however, this authority was revoked in 2020 due to regulatory rollbacks enacted during the previous presidential administration.
The impending refuge expansion occurs during the concluding stages of Joe Biden’s presidency, creating concerns that, similar to other environmental executive measures, it could be reversed if Donald Trump returns to office following the upcoming inauguration.
