Swamp turtle in the sun (photo by David Wilson/Okefenokee Protection Alliance)
New Trump rule scuttles hopes to keep mining out of
Okefenokee refuge
by CARR SMITH
The once-promising movement to stop a titanium mine near the pristine Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is suddenly in danger of collapsing because of the Trump administration’s dramatic curbs to the Clean Water Act.
Here’s what's going on.
The Okefenokee in southern Georgia is a Congressionally designated wilderness area half the size of Rhode Island that is unique in not having been compromised by development, agriculture, tree-farming or mining. The Okefenokee is also the origin of both the St. Mary’s and the Suwannee rivers.
In August of 2019, a corporation called Twin Pines Minerals, LLC, applied to the Army Corps of Engineers to open a titanium strip mine on the edges of the Okefenokee refuge. Such a mine would threaten water quality and natural flows, wildlife, plant life and recreational tourism. That same month, and in response to the mining application, the Southern Environmental Law Center convened a meeting of environmental organizations at the refuge. From that meeting, the Okefenokee Protection Alliance was formed that includes 42 local, regional, and national groups, including the Georgia and Florida chapters of the Sierra Club.
The alliance’s effort to prevent the harm produced by the mine has focused on the Corps of Engineers permitting process, contacts with the EPA Region 4 administrator, and with local governmental organizations such as the Charlton County Commission, state and local politicians and in publicizing the threats to the refuge through the Savannah and Brunswick newspapers. In August, these efforts resulted in 60,000 letters and 20,000 comments to the Corps of Engineers.
Last February, Twin Pines withdrew its original permit application; a month later, however, it submitted a second permit application for a smaller “demonstration project” mine on what is known as the Keystone Tract.
The protection alliance responded by renewing its publicizing efforts, resulting in an additional 40,000 comments to the second permit application. The alliance also found that Corps regulatory staff recommended preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, opening another avenue of stopping the mine.
Meanwhile, in September of 2019, the Trump administration moved to roll back clean water rules, especially those that affect wetlands. On April 21, 2020, the EPA published a final rule redefining the Waters of the US, which are those subject to federal regulation, drastically reducing the waters covered by the rule. The replacement rule has many legal challenges pending against it, but no injunction has stopped the application of the rule. The replacement rule will severely hamper efforts to stopping the Twin Pines mine.
The Keystone Tract proposed as the site of the mine has no streams that would be regulated under the new rule. This means the new rule would allow Twin Pines to proceed.
Okeefenokee Protection Alliance says that it seems the only impediments to titanium mining are are the Georgia permit requirements, the time it would take to construct the mine, and, of course, a change in the federal administration.
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Meetings & events:
Zoom into autumn
While the pandemic surges, we’re presenting our normal menu of group activities and face-to-face meetings on line. Here are events of interest:
Oct. 29, Thursday, 7 p.m. Zoom program: Three great trails you’ve never heard of—Part II. We'll go north of the St. Johns to explore three little-known parks with trails you'll love: Bogey Creek Preserve, William F. Sheffield Park, and Betz-Tiger Point Preserve. Zoom. Registration required.
Nov. 5, Thursday, 7 p.m. Zoom program - Three More Trails You've Never Heard Of - Part III.
We'll go to the westside to explore three large conservation areas—Seaton Creek Preserve, Thomas Creek Conservation Area, and Sal Taylor Creek Preserve. Registration required.
Anytime
Dr. Josh Gellers, an associate professor of political science at UNF, explores different human rights approaches to environmental protection in this video of a talk he gave to our group on Oct. 12. The case-sensitive access passcode is auyv3U#6
He also has a talk on “How to Be a Smart Consumer of News” that members may be interested in.
Go on a virtual hike with our knowledgable guides and experience North Florida's wonderful parks and preserves, our national park systems, scenic trails, and overseas treks as well.
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Fish Island Protest
Seeks to block car wash
Fish Island, the historic state-owned site near St. Augustine, is being harassed again, this time by a planned Gate Express car wash, and residents are gathering to oppose the project.
More than 3,700 people have signed a petition against the car wash and are writing letters opposing it. The deadline for letters is Oct. 30.
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It's time to vote—
here's a recap
of recommendations
on people & issues
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This election is vital to the future of our planet and our country. To help you decide on races you may not be familiar with, here is a brief summary of candidates and issues endorsed by the Sierra Club.
Early voting ends at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, and the polls reopen at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the formal voting day.
President and Vice President: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
U.S. House District 4: Donna Deegan
U.S. House District 5: Al Lawson
Florida State Representative
District 11: Joshua Hicks
Florida State Representative
District 17: Dave Rogers
Florida State Constitution:
Amendment 2, $15 minimum wage: Sierra recommends YES.
Amendment 3, Top-two open primaries for state offices: Sierra recommends NO.
Amendment 4, Require amendments to be passed twice: Sierra recommends NO.
St. Johns County Commission,
St. Augustine City Commission,
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Logan Cross
Educator to lead
our group into new era,
new challenges ahead
Logan Cross is the new chair of the Sierra Club Northeast Florida Group’s Executive Committee, replacing long-time chair Janet Stanko who is moving to the Tampa area.
Logan was elected unanimously by the group’s ExCom.
“Janet has done an exceptional job of leading the group over the past ten years,” Logan said. “Under her leadership the group has had many accomplishments and assumed a prominent role among Florida Sierra Club groups.”
He said that while it is tempting to continue doing things as they have been done, to do so would be a missed opportunity.
“A change in leadership is a good time to make changes to expand and enhance what the group does,” Logan said. “When coupled with the many changes being driven by the pandemic and emerging social justice issues, it seems like a time to do more than merely adapting to the new norms.”
The group’s strategic plan, adopted early this year, sets out the general and specific goals to work for through 2022.
“We will be providing many opportunities for increased member involvement,” Logan added. “And I am optimistic many of our members will contribute their time and talents to the betterment of the group.”
Logan began serving as a group Outings Leader in 2017 and serving on the Executive Committee in January 2018.
He is a retired educator with experience in both K-12 and higher education. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Georgia.
During his career he focused on learning research, program assessment, and strategic planning. While he will draw on all of his education and life experiences in leading the SCNEF, his experience in strategic planning and assessment should be particularly valuable.
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Intern helps
with our group's work
Last summer, Sierra Club Northeast Florida had its first intern to help us work on our political campaigns.
The intern, Will Burger, has a strong interest in political action related to the environment. He has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of West Florida and a masters in sustainability from Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona in Spain.
His main job was working with the club-endorsed St. Johns County Commission candidate Joe McAnarney.
“I have been tasked with the oversight of the environmental section of Joe’s website,” Will wrote in his report. “Joe wanted to create a week dedicated to the environment of St. John’s County on social media platforms in order to roll out the ideas he has for the future of this county.”
In addition to the website work, Will writes, “I have helped place signs all over the county and been figuring out ways to attract all types of voters.”
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About the Sierra Sentry
The Sierra Sentry is the newsletter of the Sierra Club’s Northeast Florida Group. It is published every month with environmental news and activites of interest to area residents.
Contributions—photos, essays, and poems—from readers are welcomed. Questions and comments? Write to the editor, Robert Blade.
Not a member of Sierra? Go here to join and receive a free tote bag.
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