Georgia lawmakers to again consider Okefenokee mining ban | State

A bill before the state legislature, House Bill 71, seeks to protect the Okefenokee by banning new mining permits within the area. Although it didn’t advance last year, lead sponsor Darlene Taylor said she’s optimistic this time, stating that the bill has support because many Georgians love the swamp.

“It’s a natural wonder of the world,” Taylor said. “It’s very beautiful … there’s no other place like it, and it’s important that we preserve that.”

The bill would only stop future mines or expansions, not those already applying for permits. But opponents are trying other means to block the proposed mine altogether.

One method is pressuring companies not to buy products from a mine near the refuge. In recent months, investment firm Green Century and the Felician Sisters, a Catholic order that seeks to leverage change through shareholder advocacy, have filed shareholder proposals with several companies.