St. George, GA – A mineral mining company is moving ahead on a proposal to dig for titanium in a sensitive part of Georgia less than 3 miles from the southeast edge of the Okefenokee wildlife refuge but a new bill may stop the dig.
Twin Pines Minerals (TPM) has been seeking government permits since 2019 to mine titanium oxide near St. George. Now the public can provide comments to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on the company’s plan to extract minerals from Charlton County before any decision is to be formalized.
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Twin Pines consultant scientists say the company’s dry mining technology can extract minerals without harming the swamp.
Research provided by the company indicates the proposed mining activities will have negligible impact on the hydrologic system of Trail Ridge and the Okefenokee Swamp and will bring new jobs to the area.
The outcome of the project will be left to Georgia regulators after TPM won a favorable court ruling removing the Army Corps of Engineers from weighing in on the mining project.
A recent bipartisan bill, called the Okefenokee Protection Act proposed by a south Georgia House Republican Lynn Smith, may thwart the project by barring the state’s Environmental Protection Agency from issuing any mining permits or changing existing ones in the Trail Ridge area.
Several scientists dispute the company’s claims that mining would not impact the ecosystem.
The swamp draws hundreds of thousands of tourists that support over 700 jobs.
A decision will be determined after the public comment period ends on March 20. If a draft surface-mining permit is issued it will be followed by another public comment period.
Upcoming public web meetings are scheduled on February 21 and 23 at 6 PM where you can voice your opinions. Register for the meetings here.