Articles of Interest

Posted on March 15, 2003

"Satilla Rising Being Threatened by Proposed Mining Operation" Waycross Journal-Herald, Friday, November 8, 2002

Brantley County folks remember when the Satilla River was a major body of water providing food and recreation to the area, along with a good water base.

Today, that waterway is being threatened by pollution from industries upstream and by massive growth that has created a lower water level. Now citizens are concerned about a mining company that hopes to extract titanium from the area.

About 100 residents who live near the Satilla River, or have an interest in keeping the Satilla a viable source of pleasure and life to Brantley Countians, met at the Brantley County Courthouse Thursday night to form an organization in hopes of stopping the mining company from locating there.

Gloria Taylor, who lives on the river in the Atkinson Community, told the crowd that she and a few others went to the Brantley County Commission meeting and were not heard by the board. The commission gave approval for the mining industry, Illuka Mining Co., to seek permits from the state to mine for titanium on a 6,841 acre plot. The company plans to dig three wells, using 800,000 gallons of water per day at start-up and then about 400,000 gallons thereafter.

Taylor told the group at the meeting, "If we don't get some people involved, get the river protected, shame on us!"

Taylor noted that the company plans to mine on both sides of the highway near Lulation.

"These are friendly people, I just don't think they should mine here where they want to", Taylor said. "What about our river? What about our wildlife? What about the water?"

She added that timber companies have changed the area with canals, ditches, roads and that in turn has changed the river.

"Our life is going to change one way or another", Taylor said. When they mine for titanium, they get other minerals and that has the potential to become radioactive."

She also said that one fourth of the birds in the United States are in danger because of a loss of habitat, and that the entire state is in a water crisis.

She did say, however, that Illuka wants to be a good neighbor, that they have promised to replace the sand, topsoil and plant pine trees when they are finished mining.

"Brantley County is a poor county, they know we need the money," Taylor said. "I see people getting something. The Brantley County Commission says it's going to be a multi-million boost for the county. with only 24 employees? Those are our concerns."

Taylor added that the company has to get several permits including one for surface mining, groundwater withdrawal, surface water withdrawal and wastewater discharge.

"The mining company says they won't disturb the wetlands (about 1,000 acres)," Taylor said. Brunswick turned them down. Charlton County got DuPont out of there. Brantley County has no zoning, which is good, but the downside is you can't stop anything. The county commission loves it. Mining companies and timber companies are bid people, we are small."

Bill Shield of Illuka, told the group that Illuka wants to be a good neighbor and will not harm the river. He said the company plans to re-use the water over and over ant that when they are finished with the property, it will be returned to good shape.

"We want to look after the river just like you do," said Shield. " We can't save the river, but together we can have an impact."

One lady in the back of the room broke in and asked, "How can we keep you from coming here?"

Another man echoed, "Is it a done deal?"

Another asked, "Can you guarantee there won't be trouble after you leave?"

Shield said the company has been mining for 30 years in Florida. He also stated that a work force of about 76 people will be needed, and that the company is working with "Quick Start," a government program that helps train workers.

(Bobbie Chancey stated emphatically, "We don't want you here. We don't want dump trucks going 24/7. You're not bringing jobs."

Shield stated that the company is continuing to wait for permits, but that some preliminary work is being done at the site, such as putting down a test well.

"We cannot begin mining or construction until we get the permits," Shield said. "We will not disturb it all at one time. We will provide buffers and we cannot disturb the wetlands, only .07 acres of wetlands will be disturbed."

Shield offered to put the entire group on a bus and drive them to Green Cove Springs, Fla. where they are currently in the mining process and show them how it works.

One man in the group said that his worry is the water - "we used to get water at 15 feet, now it's 41 feet, and that's just because of the number of people who have moved in here."

He added that of three flowing wells in the area, two are now gone and one is only a trickle.

One man in the audience stood up and told the group that if they could see what happening to the river, they  wouldn't be concerned about the mining.

"There are four-wheelers and trucks driving up and down and cutting the sandbar to ribbons," the man said. "Farmers above us are pumping out and irrigating their cotton fields, then the runoff with all those insecticides and pesticides are returning to the Satilla River."

Taylor invited those in attendance to sign up for a corp group to work to keep the river clean. More meetings will be held in the future as the group makes attempts to keep the river a viable waterway for all of Brantley County and beyond.