To mine or not to mine—that is the Okefenokee question.
You’d think that should be a simple yes-or-no response, but it’s not.
Even though thousands of Georgians have voiced opposition to risking the fragile ecosystem of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the state’s ultimate decision-maker appears to be tilted the other way.
At least for now.
For the Alabama mining company, Twin Pines Minerals LLC, to get permission to dig near the 400,000-plus-acre blackwater swamp, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD) must grant a permit. EPD seems to agree with Twin Pines that no harm will be done by its digging for titanium and other minerals.
As I have said before, I do not trust Twin Pines. The past is a good predictor of the future. Previous unacceptable actions by Twin Pines have erected warning signs for me. The Okefenokee is too much of an irreplaceable treasure to be entrusted with a company whose record, in my opinion, is spotty at best.
Enough of that.
How many people live in Georgia?
The answer is approximately 11 million. If you asked our residents for their opinions in this mining debate, I am confident the tally would be in favor of protection versus a go-ahead for Twin Pines. But twice, bipartisan legislation—aimed at safeguarding the Okefenokee—has died in the House’s committee on natural resources and the environment.
With so much opposition to something so popular, why would the proposed Okefenokee bills never come up for discussion or a vote?
Good question.
Yes, Twin Pines has lobbied heavily with significant campaign contributions. That’s easy to see. And whether you like that or not, schmoozing is nothing new under the Gold Dome or in D.C. Nonetheless, I believe most Georgians think that the Twin Pines approach doesn’t pass the sniff test.
But hold that thought.
One of the first lessons that I learned in a half-century of sales is that you must identify the objections. Until you satisfy the objections, you won’t consummate the sale. That theory applies to the Okefenokee standoff, too.
The Gold Dome resistance seems to be defined with these words: private-property rights. I believe that’s why Rep. Lynn Smith’s committee never got a chance to debate and vote on Okefenokee-protective proposals. Until the matter of private-property rights is resolved, the “Land of Trembling Earth’s” expanded protection will be in limbo.
Environmental peace of mind, I believe, will come with a price tag. If we want private-property owners—adjoining the Okefenokee and other eco-sensitive sites—to give up their certain rights, they will expect payment. The solution could be outright purchase of the private-property or payment for a conservation easement that would prohibit undesired activities—i.e., mining.
In a perfect world, you would hope that one private-property owner—for example, Twin Pines—wouldn’t do anything that would adversely affect a neighbor. In this case, that’d be the Okefenokee Swamp. But this isn’t a perfect world. The more practical rule is to follow the money. The ultimate solution is for the government and possibly environmental conservation groups to partner to close the sale. Yes, I know. The devil is always in the details
In the meantime, people have asked whether I support the Okefenokee’s becoming a World Heritage Site through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). My answer is no. We don’t need international personalities and/or interference in our Okefenokee issue.
But here’s what I do support. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has just proposed an expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. As much as 22,000 acres could be added, including the acreage that Twin Pines owns. I believe this would be a smart-for-the-future investment. If you agree, you need to speak up. The deadline for email opinions to Okefenokee@fws.gov is Nov. 18.
If this Hail Mary idea fails, there is only one other resolution to the mine-or-not-to-mine debate. And that’s to settle the private-property-rights objection that is the legislative roadblock.
dnesmith@cninewspapers.com