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March 9, 1999

1) EPA Wants Additional Ala. Waterways Cleaned Up
2) Health Care Without Harm - Al. Medical Waste Incinerators
3) Dauphin Island Sea Lab's - "Estuarium"
4) Calendar Time! Upcoming Events This Spring

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1. EPA Wants Additional Waterways Cleaned Up - According to a March 5th
article by the Mobile Register, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) wants to add nearly 80 Alabama rivers and streams to the "303(d)" list,
because the agency believes the streams do not meet their current water
quality classifications.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is opposing the EPA
proposal because they say EPA does not have enough proof that the waterways
need to be cleaned up.

The state of Alabama must assess its waterways every two (2) years to
determine whether the streams and rivers are suited for their water quality
designation, and those that fail are added to the EPA's 303(d) list.

Last year ADEM submitted 114 stream and river sections that it believed were
failing their designated water quality standards. After EPA claimed the list
was insufficient, ADEM identified an additional 41 streams to the list. EPA
has countered that their own analysis of water quality info submitted by
Alabama warrants the inclusion of 77 more streams, increasing the state's
list to 232 rivers and streams.

For more information about this "battle" of state and federal agencies and
what you can do to protect Alabama's waters, contact the Alabama Rivers
Alliance at 322-6395 or Alabamariv@aol.com

2. Health Care Without Harm: Medical Waste Incinerators - Last month I
received information from "Health Care Without Harm" a worldwide coalition of
over 150 groups (the coalition includes a very impressive list of medical and
environmental groups) working to eliminate pollution from the health care
industry without compromising safety or care.

A major concern of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is medical waste
incinerators (MWI). These particular incinerators are the second leading
source of dioxin and fourth leading source of mercury emissions into the
environment. Currently there are 12 large MWI in B'ham, Montgomery,
Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Mobile, Dothan, Decatur Gadsden and Auburn. Eleven (11)
of the twenty-seven (27) large to medium sized MWI incinerators are located
in Jefferson county alone.

In 1997, the EPA released new standards for MWI's. HCWH maintains that these
standards are not as strong as they should be and are not protective of human
health. As a result of the new federal regulations, states are now drafting
new regs. for MWI's. HCWH will be pushing ADEM for stronger rules on MWI's
this Spring.

For more information about HCWH and medical waste incinerators contact Vera
Cohen at 617-354-2304. A stricter rule MWI's will mean less toxics and
cleaner air for Alabama.

3. Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Estuarium - Three (3) years ago, I was fortuante
to visit the Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). It was still
"under construction", but I could see back then it was going to be something
special. Today, the DISL Estuarium has blossomed into a first class
educational center.

The beautiful "Living Marsh Boardwalk", a 10,000 square foot exhibit hall and
the resources of all the creative professionals at DISL, are just a few of
the assets the Estuarium possesses. With exhibits focusing on the
Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and the Gulf of Mexico,
the Estuarium is a "must see" for people interested in learning more about
marine and coastal life in Alabama.

For more information about the DISL Estuarium visit their website at:
http://www.disl.org or call 334-861-2141.

4. Calendar Time! Upcoming Events this Spring - With Earth Day only a month
and half away, the following is a comprehensive listing of environmental
events across Alabama. If you have an event you would like to "place in BEN"
send it to BEN at pkbyington@aol.com - FYI - We will be profiling some of
these events in future editions of BEN.

March 12-13 - Alabama Environmental Council's Annual Meeting - For more info
call 1-205-322-3126

March 14-17 - World Wildlife Fund's State of the Rivers Conference - For more
info call 202-861-8369

March 20 - "Locust Fork Classic" White Water Race - The 3rd and final race of
the "Alabama Cup". Race time starts at 9:30 at Kings Bend on Hwy 79 on the
Locust Fork River. For more details call Martha Hunter at 205-429-4120

March 20-June 5 - The Land Trust of Huntsville & North Alabama's Spring Burst
Hike Series - For dates and times call 256-534-LAND

April 1 - Deadline for Legacy's Summer Teacher Institute and several
workshops. Contact Legacy at 1-800-240-5115 for details.

April 11 - Earth Day at the Gardens - To be held at the Birmingham Botanical
Gardens 1-4. Groups throughout Alabama will be in attendance.

April 17 - Alabama Environmental Council's 1999 Green Tie Affair in
Birmingham. For more info call 205-322-3126.

April 22 - "River Walk" a breathtaking photography exhibit by Beth Young
opens at the Anniston Museum of Natural History and will run through June
27th.

May 1 - Covered Bridge Trail Hike - Starting at the Oneonta Public Library
between 9-11. For more info contact Clif Robinson, Friends of the Covered
Bridge Trail at 205-429-3150.

May 8 - 6th Annual Friends of Locust Fork River Festival - A great Mother's
Day festival. For info and directions call 205-466-3858.

May 8 - 3rd Annual Community Lead Education and Screening Day at New Hope
Baptist Church in Birmingham. This event will be filled with workshops and
will provide free lead tests for children. For more info call Pat Byington
at 205-226-7739.

May15-16 - Alabama Rivers Alliance Watersheds Conference - For more details
call 205-322-6395.

There are several annual events I do not have the exact date and times for,
but you may want to contact these groups for more info and details. They are:

Cahaba Society's Riverfest - In early May - 205-32-CLEAN

Baldwin County's Earth Day Celebration - Earth Day Weekend -contact the AEC
at 205-322-3126 for more details.

EarthFest - University of Alabama's week long Earth Day Celebration -
205-348-8416.

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If you have any questions about BEN, contact Pat Byington at

205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com