DARLENE TAYLOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING REPRESENTATIVE DSTRT 173 COVERDELL LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING gricuLrun TAN er arrAIRs ‘THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA 31758 bed APPROPRIATIONS (229) 225-9843 (0) ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334 LEGISLATIVE & CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING FAK 200.225 0045, (404) 656-0178 PUBLIC SAFETY 8 HOMELAND SECURITY Darlene taylor@house.ga.gov GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - CHAIRMAN TRANSPORTATION Richard E. Dunn, Director 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SE 14th Floor Fast Tower - Suite 1456 Atlanta, GA 30334-9000 Dear Mr, Dunn: Lam writing to you to express renewed concerns about the Twin Pines Minerals, LLC (“TPM”) proposal to open a titanium strip mine along the southeastern boundary of the Okefenokee Swamp ecosystem. ‘As 1 mentioned to you in my previous letter dated March 1, 2022, the Okefenokee is perhaps Georgia’s greatest natural treasure, Itis the largest blackwater wetland ecosystem in North America, the largest national wildlife refuge and third largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River, and home to huncireds of species of plants and animals, many endangered, It is an International Dark Sky Park and a perennial short-list candidate for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list of the greatest natural areas on the planet, These ecological attributes attract over 650,000 visits per year, contributing over $65M to the local economy, making it a critical economic engine for southeast Georgia, Unfortunately, TPM’s proposal for a strip mine along the swamp’s southeastern boundary is putting the swamp at grave risk. As you know, nationally renowned scientific experts, led by Dr. Rhett Jackson, have opined that the mine will (a) lower the swamp's water level, making it three times more likely to suffer drought conditions in its southeastern section, and (b) because of the need to evaporate the mine’s wastewater, the mine will create saline clouds that could deposit upwards of 1.2 tons per day of salt into the swamp. According to the experts, these combined effects would have catastrophic impacts on the swamp’s hydrologic, chemical and biological integrity, EPD’s December 7,2022 response to Dr, Jackson's November 2022 report indicated it disagreed with his opinion about hydrologic impacts on the swamp, based largely on its opinion that he ineorrectly relied on the Moniac, GA gauge in the St. Marys River and instead should have relied on the gauge 15 miles downstream. Dr, Jackson responded with a memo dated January 11, 2023 in which he says the Moniac gauge is in fact the correct gauge because of its proximity to the swamp and the mine site, and that the downstream gauge relied on by EPD presented a distorted and incorrect assessment of the issue. He also notes that EPD failed to address the salt deposition issue at all. find Dr. Jackson’s latest memo to be well reasoned, and would appreciate an opportunity to meet and discuss with EPD staff his contention that EPD’s reliance on the downstream gauge is misplaced, as well as EPD’s opinion on the salt deposition issue. I would also request that no decisions be made or documents released until the legislature has a better understanding of EPD’s reasoning.DARLENE TAYLOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES bed INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 17” COVERDELLLECISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING. agpicut runt Sean GaucR AFFAIRS ‘THoWashitLe GEORGIA 91750 ROOM 404 APPROPRIATIONS (229) 225-9943 (0) ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334 LEGISLATIVE & CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING FAX: 229-225-9845 (404) 656-0178 PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY Darenelayerghouega.gov ies GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - CHAIRMAN ‘Thank you for your immediate attention to this letter. I understand there are many issues that you are tending to, but given the delicate nature of the ecosystem and the economy it suppor, this situation calls for clear communication between policy makers and executive staff that execute that policy, cerely Darlene Taylor District 173