December 19, 1998
Dear Friends,
BEN will be taking a much needed vacation!! This will be the
last BEN until
the new year. I hope you have a joyful and safe holiday season.
Best Wishes,
Pat Byington - BEN
****************************************
1) Mobile Register to Publish Ground-breaking 36 Page Special
On
Mobile-Tensaw Delta - "A Wilderness Despite Us"
2) County Commission Assoc. to Propose Enviro Legislation
3) ADEM Asks For Major Budget Increases
4) Only 36% Gas Stations Known to Meet New Tougher Anti-Pollution
Standards
5) Audubon Starts Christmas Bird Count Statewide
******************************************
1. Mobile Register Mobile-Tensaw Series Starts Sunday -
Please mark your
calendars: This Sunday (Dec.20th), the Mobile Register will be
publishing
the most comprehensive special report ever done on the Mobile-Tensaw
Delta.
This 36 page series called "A Wilderness Despite Us"
took more than 2 years
to research and complete. In a nutshell the report tells people
why the
Delta is important, how we've degraded it, and what we can do
to restore it.
- Here's a sample of the report -
"South Alabama's Mobile-Tensaw Delta may be the nation's
most undervalued
wetland paradise. We have diked it, dammed it, and dumped untold
tons of
filth into it. And yet the Delta remains one of the most unique
and
productive ecological niches left in North America."
I strongly urge folks to reserve a copy of this groundbreaking
publication at
your local Books a Million or local bookstore. You can also call
the Mobile
Register at 1-800-239-1340 (ask for circulation) to receive copies.
Be
mindful that with the war in Iraq and the Impeachment vote in
Congress, the
publication of this document could be delayed. I was told as late
as
Thursday that it was still a "go" on Sunday.
2. Association of County Commissions Offer 2 Enviro Proposals
- According to
published reports, the state Association of County Commissions
will be
offering 11 legislative proposals this upcoming session, including
2
proposals which will address environmental concerns. Here are
the following
enviro. proposals:
Planning and Zoning - Most of Alabama's county governments
do not have
planning and zoning authority. The association is proposing a
statute to
authorize legislators to introduce local bills to put land-use
regulations
for unincorporated areas on the ballot. According to the draft
proposal,
individual county commission districts could vote to create their
own
planning and zoning boards. The vote would not have to occur as
a countywide
initiative. This legislation is aimed at preventing poor planning.
For
example, it would help prevent the location of dumps or hog factories
next to
residential communities. The bill will also help foster long term
planning
and sustainable development.
Scrap Tires - This bill would mandate state licenses for people
or businesses
who transport, recycle and dispose of scrap tires. It also provides
a system
of fines for people who commit license violations.
3. ADEM Asking for More Money - According to a memo
obtained by BEN, ADEM has
finalized its budget request for FY 2000 and has forwarded it
to the State
Finance Department, so that it may be used in drafting the Governor's
budget
proposal. After years of downsizing ADEM is requesting a more
than 35%
increase in its basic operating budget from FY 1999. Approximately
30
additional staff, distributed across all activities within ADEM
would be
added. The budget increase would amount to $1.63 million dollar
for next
year.
Along with the basic operation increase ADEM is seeking a $1.7
million
appropriation to match federal funds in the Drinking Water SRF
program.
The memo stated that ADEM's first priority will be the increase
in the
operating budget.
4. Only 36% Underground Tanks Comply - According to
the B'ham News many "mom
and pop" gasoline stations will be closing as a result of
stricter
underground fuel tank standards. Currently only 36% of the underground
tanks
in the state comply with the new standards despite the December
22nd
deadline, and the Congressional enactment of stronger storage
tank laws 10
years ago. A higher percentage of compliance is expected, once
ADEM
officials complete the enormous task of inspecting about 19,000
active tanks.
Leaky underground fuel tanks are one of the leading sources of
groundwater
contamination.
5. Audubon Christmas Bird Count Starts Today - Each winter
members of the
Audubon Society scour Alabama's landscape in search for the ultimate
bird
count. Volunteering for the Christmas Bird Count is a great way
to
experience the outdoors and of course learn how to become a "birder'.
The
statewide Christmas Bird Count begins today (sorry about not getting
the info
out in time) at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge . The next two weeks
there will
be Counts in Birmingham (Dec. 26th) and Gulf Shores (Jan. 2nd).
Please
contact Buzz Peavy (he is the compiler) for the Birmingham Area
at
205-426-1117 and Greg Jackson for the Gulf Shores Count. His number
is
205-987-2858. Remember you don't have to be a member to help out.
Please share BEN with friends and fellow conservationists.
If you have any questions about BEN, contact Pat Byington at
205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com
