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Ogeechee Riverkeeper®

Newsletter
March 2021

Image from resident near proposed quarry site

Victory!

The Hancock County Commission voted to deny the zoning permit application for a proposed quarry.

The permit would have allowed Mayfield Natural Resources to open a gravel quarry in Hancock County which would have endangered the health of their community. 

Ogeechee Riverkeeper opposed the quarry development due to its proximity to the Ogeechee River, and possible adverse effects on water quality, potential damage to the aquifer that locals use for drinking water, and likelihood of it becoming a pollution source. 

In addition, ORK has been working with local residents for the past four months to help citizens mount robust opposition. While residents’ reasons vary, concerns included complications from silica dust, negative health effects to livestock, infrastructure damage, social and housing inequities, disturbance to local businesses and tourism industry, historic property damage, and more. 

Thank you to Stack and Associates for representing the concerns of ORK and the citizens whose way of life would have been negatively impacted. Thank you to the commissioners for listening to the concerns of their constituents.

Thank you to everyone who helped get this across the finish line. Whether you signed the petition, spoke to a neighbor, donated to the effort, or wrote a letter -- it all matters. Your relentless efforts to protect the river and the watershed from dangerous development worked. 

You helped keep the Ogeechee River clean and safe.

 

Legislative victory

More than a decade after this effort began, Trust Fund Honesty passed both chambers unanimously! This bill formally dedicates the fees collected to the trust funds, protecting resources to carry out remediation of legacy hazardous sites and provide consistent funds for local governments to address scrap tire dumps and problems arising at local solid waste handling facilities.

Earth Day at Green Truck Pub

ORK is partnering with Green Truck Pub for Earth Day Month in Savannah. The drop-by event will be held April 22, 5-9 p.m., and feature a live outdoor projection of a new interactive map of the Ogeechee River basin. Green Truck will offer a new burger special highlighting the celebration. 

Melanie yoga

Birding activity

Do you want to learn about birds but don’t know where to start? Do you often see or hear birds but don’t know how to identify them? Are you looking for a safe, different outdoor activity? Plan a birding trip and enter to win.

Membership Drive

This April is ORK's annual membership drive. During the month of April, renew your membership or set up an automatically renewing donation, and you will be entered to win fabulous prizes including a wooden cricket box, an original Raven Waters painting, Green Truck Pub swag, and more!

Recreation map

Milliken update

The public comment regarding the proposed permit renewal closed in November. ORK submitted its detailed comments to those that GA EPD is now reviewing. ORK also shared its PFAs findings. These, along with other documents regarding the permit, are available online

There is no definitive timeframe for GA EPD's announcement of the new permit details. ORK continues to investigate the facility and collect data, and ORK will share details of the new permit as well as a response once it becomes available.

There are many ways you can help the Ogeechee Riverkeeper protect, preserve and improve the waterways within our basin.

 

Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Inc.
PO Box 16206
Savannah, Georgia 31416-2906
(866) 942-6222

info@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org
www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

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