Financial issues swamp efforts to block Okefenokee mine

February 15, 1999
Web posted at: 11:53 a.m. EST (1653 GMT)

FOLKSTON, Georgia (CNN) -- It was a hard-won fight, but an agreement has finally been reached to keep a titanium mine off the borders of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

However, it will cost an estimated $90 million dollars to pay Dupont to scrub the plan and give up its mineral rights -- a figure that U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt calls "grossly inflated."

CNN's Natalie Pawelski reports on the remaining obstacle: getting all sides to agree on a figure, and to ante up.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.