Resolutions for Okefenokee Swamp, against strip mine --Suwannee Riverkeeper @ SGRC 2021-12-09 [Up]

WWALS blog post:

• Resolutions for Okefenokee Swamp, against strip mine --Suwannee Riverkeeper @ SGRC 2021-12-09.

See also 2025 Georgia House bills, https://wwals.net/?p=67055

• HB 561 of 2025 is almost identical to HB 71 of 2024
• HB 562 of 2025 is a new bill for a five-year moratorium on mining permits on Trail Ridge.

Here are the city and county resolutions.

* Includes request for a moratorium on mining near the Okefenokee Swamp: Valdosta, Echols County, Clinch County, Berrien County, and Atkinson County, plus DeKalb County cites Clinch and Echols.

1. Homeland, GA
   • Homeland resolution 1200-070821 of July 8, 2021
2. St. Marys, GA
   • St. Marys resolution 7-19-21-1 of July 19, 2021
3. Kingsland, GA
   • Kingsland resolution 2021-09
   • signed copy of Kingsland resolution 2021-09 of September 13, 2021
4. Ware County, GA
   • Ware County resolution 2021-14 of September 28, 2021
5. Waycross, GA
   • Joint resolution 21-78 of Waycross and resolution 2021-15 of Ware County dated October 11, 2021.
6. Valdosta, GA*
   • Valdosta-Resolution-for-Opposition-to-a-Strip-Mine-111021.pdf
   • signed copy of Valdosta resolution 2021-20 of November 11, 2021.
   • LAKE videos of Valdosta Mayor and Council passing the resolution.
   • News again: Valdosta’s 2021 resolution against the strip mine proposed too near the Okefenokee Swamp 2023-01-01.
7. Echols County, GA*
   • Echols County Okefenokee Resolution 2023-08-03.
   • signed copy of the Echols County resolution of 2023-08-03.
8. Clinch County, GA*
   • Clinch County Resolution against strip mine, for Okefenokee Swamp 2023-09-11
   • signed copy of the Clinch County resolution of 2023-09-11.
   • WWALS videos of the Clinch County Commission passing the resolution.
   • Discussion the previous month, 2023-08-07
9. DeKalb County, GA
   • A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA REQUESTING PROTECTION FOR THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP October 24, 2023
10. GMA
    • Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) supports HB 71, Okefenokee Protection Act, January 5, 2024
11. Nashville, GA
    • CITY OF NASHVILLE RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION OF STRIP MINING IN THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP OR ADJACENT LANDS, January 8, 2024
12. Savannah, GA
    • RESOLUTION URGING PROTECTION OF OKEFENOKEE SWAMP, CITY OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 25, 2024
    • PDF of Savannah resolution
    • Signed Savannah resolution
13. Berrien County, GA*
    • Berrien County resolution for the Okefenokee Swamp against the Twin Pines Minerals proposed strip mine 2024-02-06.
    • Signed Berrien County resolution.
14. Hamilton County, FL
    • Hamilton County, Florida, resolution for the Okefenokee Swamp, against the strip mine 2024-02-20
15. Atkinson County, GA*
    • Atkinson County, GA, resolution for the Okefenokee Swamp against the strip mine 2024-03-14.
    • Signed copy of Atkinson County, GA, resolution 2024-03-14.

Plus: All Nine Riverkeepers of Georgia: Altamaha, Chattahoochee, Flint, Ogeechee, Satilla, Savannah, St. Marys, Suwannee, and Upper Coosa.

• 2023-03-09 for Georgia Legislators and Members of Congress: https://wwals.net/?p=61447 (PDF)

And All the Waterkeepers of Florida: Apalachicola Riverkeeper, Calusa Waterkeeper, Collier County Waterkeeper, Emerald Coastkeeper, Indian Riverkeeper, Kissimmee Waterkeeper, Lake Worth Waterkeeper, Matanzas Riverkeeper, Miami Waterkeeper, Peace-Myakka Waterkeeper, St. Johns Riverkeeper, St. Marys Riverkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, Suwannee Riverkeeper, and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.

• 2019-10-23 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and GA-EPD: https://wwals.net/?p=50562 (PDF)
• 2020-12-11 to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp: https://wwals.net/?p=54375 (PDF)
• 2023-03-17 to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp: https://wwals.net/?p=61437 (PDF)

The only local government resolution in favor of the mine:

1. Charlton County, GA
   • Charlton County Resolution supporting the proposed titanium mine near the Okefenokee 2019-08-15.

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Pictures

M

Suwannee Riverkeeper; Okefenokee Swamp, mine site

Videos

Movie: Resolutions for the Okefenokee swamp against a mine --Suwannee Riverkeeper (239M)

Maps

Okefenokee Swamp north

Logos

Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE)