Free Republic

The Okefenokee Swamp lost federal protection under the Trump administration, leaving the fate of the project in the hands of state environmental regulators who have been pressing Twin Pines Minerals LLC for more details about their plans. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday it would reverse the agency’s earlier determination, pointing to an early 2021 directive from President Joe Biden that tribal communities should be consulted on policies impacting them. This means Twin Pines will have to reapply on the federal level, which the company president says will happen. “We have said from the day we announced...

FOLKSTON - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge officials were concerned earlier this spring that near drought conditions could mean a tense wildfire season. Now they're dealing with flooded docks after two weeks of heavy rains saturated the ground and raised water to above-average levels, they said. "It wasn't quite a drought, but water levels were dropping pretty quickly," said Blaine Eckberg, a refuge ranger. "We had to stop doing prescribed burns because of dry conditions." More than 10 1/2 inches of rain has fallen in the swamp since May 15, pushing the water about 16 inches above normal for this time...