The People Have Spoken

Thank you! You’ve responded to the threat to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in astounding numbers. Well over 60,000 people submitted comments regarding Twin Pines Minerals’ applications to mine Trail Ridge (the geological “dam” of the Swamp) in the search for titanium.
- Twin Pines’ March permit application alone (the second one for a smaller area which, we believe, was nothing more than a bid to evade an Environmental Impact Statement) drew 44,000 comments from 50 U.S. states, 4 U.S. territories, and over 30 countries.
- In response to Twin Pines’ March permit application, 34 national, state, regional and local conservation organizations signed a joint comment letter to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), outlining their deep concerns about Twin Pines’ proposed project.
- On May 13th, the USACE held a virtual public meeting about the proposed project. The video-conference lines were filled to capacity.
The entire nation and much of the world has spoken: protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and the St. Marys and Suwannee Rivers. 

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge PUBLIC HEARING

With your help, we’ve come so far. Please take this next step. And remember...it doesn't matter in which state or country you live: the Okefenokee is one of the world's largest naturally-driven freshwater ecosystems and the fight to protect this rare jewel is a global effort. 

On Wednesday, May 13, from 2- 5pm, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will be holding an online Public Hearing about the proposed titanium mine on the doorstep of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The Okefenokee is one of America’s greatest wetlands, a critical habitat for rare and imperiled plants and animals, and the headwaters for two essential river systems.

Twin Pines Minerals, LLC, has now submitted two applications and yet the company has consistently failed to prove that they will cause no harm to the Okefenokee, the St. Marys River, or the Suwannee River. In fact, federal and state agencies as well as more than 20 national, regional, state, and local conservation groups have voiced concern about the proposed mine: concern that is supported by members of the scientific community. The common consensus among these experts is that the Twin Pines project presents a clear threat to this rare and fragile environmental treasure.

It is imperative that the public has a voice in this crucial matter. Over 30,000 of you submitted written comments and now we ask you to take this next quick step.

Please join the online hearing for as much time as you can spare.

The meeting will be held using the WebEx platform.

In order to attend the Virtual Public Meeting you must RSVP by emailing

CESAS-SpecialProjects@usace.army.mil

Subject: “RSVP for 13 MAY Public Meeting TPM”

Make sure that you include your full name, email address, and contact phone number with area code.

Before the meeting, you will receive the meeting link, instructions, and security code. Just click the link and follow the prompts.

You don’t have to participate in the entire 2- 5pm meeting; we understand that that’s impossible for many people. Just stay long enough to make yourself heard by typing your comment and/or question in the chat feature and asking the USACE to either deny the permit application for this controversial project or, at the very least, require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement.

All participant lines will be muted in order to maintain audio quality. Moderators will direct questions to the appropriate person during the question and answer session.

It is essential that we take action now in order to save the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the rivers that depend on it. Please…speak up on May 13th.