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Twin Pines Minerals Meeting a Disappointment

phosphate mine

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Folkston group In: Twin Pines Minerals Meeting a Disappointment | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. | Protecting the Santa Fe River in North Florida

Five OSFR members, all riparian landowners, four of whom were board members, made the trip to Folkston, Georgia on Tuesday, August 13, to give input to Twin Pines Minerals, who wants a permit to mine titanium at the headwaters of the Suwannee River.

FOLKSTON1 In: Twin Pines Minerals Meeting a Disappointment | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. | Protecting the Santa Fe River in North Florida
Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Mark Lyons take the message to the street. Mark’s tee shirt is descriptive.

The purpose of the meeting was for Twin Pines to educate and inform the public about their intentions regarding the mine.

folkston jsq In: Twin Pines Minerals Meeting a Disappointment | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. | Protecting the Santa Fe River in North Florida
John Quarterman, Georgia resident and Suwannee RiverKeeper lets nothing slip by him regarding the Suwannee River and possible threats to it.

And, one would assume, listen to the concerns of interested and potentially-affected public.

The following  description is by Mark Lyons, veteran and experienced mine opponent:

This event was like a 5th grade science fair except that 5th grade teachers probably would have had better answers than we received yesterday. I’ve never heard so many– probably, maybe, could, possibly, might, I’m not sure, you need to ask so ‘n so. Nothing like consulting firm employees who sit in an office all day and have never mined answering ‘mining’ questions!
We could add an  “I don’t know,” answer we got several times.
The story gets worse:  reports were that the Charleton BOCC on Thursday evening allowed no public comment other than local residents, and that was after the vote was taken.
folkstonmmj president In: Twin Pines Minerals Meeting a Disappointment | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. | Protecting the Santa Fe River in North Florida
Merrillee refutes some misinformation from Twin Pines President Steve Ingle, while Kristin Rubin films and OSFR president Mike Roth look on.
Even more, Twin Pines are currently operating with Chemours in Bradford County, and have been cited for violation.  Among those were operating with no permit, and dumping waste on wetlands.
It is also reported that the mine was given the go-ahead with no Environmental Impact Statement.
folkston hall In: Twin Pines Minerals Meeting a Disappointment | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. | Protecting the Santa Fe River in North Florida
The meeting was advertised to be in the auditorium but took place in crowded, poorly aircondiditoned hallways, too noisy to hear the pleas of ignorance from mine staffers.

Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-

3 Comments

  1. “Ignorance is bliss” in the political realm, but for the rest of us it’s “In much wisdom, there is much grief!” Sad, but true..

  2. What a shame our world has become so greedy and so many don’t care at all about the enviornment. Thank you for trying so hard to be heard.

  3. Rights of Nature Movement can be initiated in Bradford County to amend the County Charter to protect the Suwanee River. All impacts upstream can then be litigated on behalf of the Ecosystem itself.
    Visit Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF.ORG) to learn more. Five Florida counties are in process of doing this. We would be happy to help.
    Email [email protected]

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