Editing Okefenokee Swamp (section)

==Titanium mining operations==
A 50-year [[titanium]] [[mining]] operation by [[DuPont]] was set to begin in 1997, but [[protest]]s and public–government opposition over possibly disastrous environmental effects from 1996 to 2000 forced the company to abandon the project in 2000 and retire their mineral rights permanently. In 2003, DuPont donated the {{convert|16000|acre|ha}} it had purchased for mining to [[Land and Water Conservation Fund|The Conservation Fund]], and in 2005, nearly {{convert|7000|acre|ha}} of the donated land was transferred to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgiarecorder.com/2019/08/08/public-pressure-killed-okefenokee-mining-plans-once-will-it-again/ |title=Public pressure killed Okefenokee mining plans once. Will it again? |last=Dunlap |first=Stanley |date=August 8, 2019 |publisher=Georgia Recorder |access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>

In 2018, Twin Pines Minerals LLC proposed another titanium mining operation near the Okefenokee Swamp. Over 60,000 people sent comments opposing the operation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mainstreetnews.com/madison/opinion/letter-sen-perdue-threatening-to-drain-the-wrong-swamp-georgia-s-world-famous-okefenokee/article_0512b34f-0982-5e53-85d2-19f213d1817b.html |title=LETTER: Sen. Perdue threatening to drain the wrong swamp, Georgia's world-famous Okefenokee |last=Marks |first=Josh |date=January 2, 2021 |website=Madison Journal Today |access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Later, in 2020, a new rule by the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|first Trump administration]] reduced what was protected under the [[Clean Water Act]], removing about {{convert |400 |acres| ha}} in the proposed mining site from federal protections.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/opinion/columns/2020/11/04/river-watchdog-federal-clean-water-law-changes-threaten-okefenokee/42992993/ |title=River watchdog: Federal clean water law changes threaten Okefenokee |last=Peck |first=Rena Ann |date=November 4, 2020 |publisher=[[Savannah Morning News]] |access-date= February 22, 2021}}</ref> The updated plan would include mining {{convert| 577.4| acres| ha}} for titanium and zirconium, {{convert| 2.9| miles| km}} southeast of the Okefenokee Refuge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twinpinesmineralscharlton.com/ |title=Twin Pines Minerals, LLC – Charlton County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |publisher=Twin Pines Minerals, LLC |access-date= February 22, 2021}}</ref> However, in 2022, [[Jon Ossoff|U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff]] blocked the proposed titanium mine after the [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]] warned of severe potential damage to the wildlife refuge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mecke |first1=Marisa |title=Army Corps blocks mine near Okefenokee, cites failure to consult Muscogee Creek Nation |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2022/06/03/army-corps-engineers-reverses-wetlands-decision-okefenokee-mine/7506056001/ |publisher=Savannah Morning News |date=June 3, 2022}}</ref>

The Okefenokee Swamp was listed as one of [[America's Most Endangered Rivers]] in 2020<ref>{{cite news |last1=Landers |first1=Mary |title=Okefenokee named among 'most endangered' rivers |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/14/okefenokee-named-among-most-endangered-rivers/1342259007/ |access-date=August 8, 2023 |work=Savannah Morning News |date=April 14, 2020}}</ref> and again in 2023 on account of the mining threats.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mecke |first1=Marisa |title=American Rivers names Okefenokee in Top 10 most endangered rivers |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/environment/2023/04/18/okefenokee-listed-american-rivers-top-10-most-endangered-due-to-mine/70116344007/ |access-date=August 8, 2023 |work=Savannah Morning News |date=April 18, 2023}}</ref>