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August 22, 1999
1) 33 Scientists Call For Listing the Alabama Sturgeon
2) Mobile Bay NEP Releases "Our Water, Our Future"
3) EPA Seeking Lead Right to Know Comments
4) What's a TMDL? Learn About TMDL Program in Alabama
5) Environmental Positions Open and Other Tidbits
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"We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than
we shall achieve
absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations,
the
important thing is not to achieve but to strive." - Aldo
Leopold
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1. 33 Scientists Call For Sturgeon Listing - Last week,
33 members of the
scientific and academic community signed and released the following
petition:
We the undersigned, as members of Alabama's academic or scientific
community,
support the following assertions as reasonable and true.
* Alabama's freshwater sturgeon is at a minimum, unique and
distinct
population of freshwater sturgeon
* There has been a dramatic decline in the number of individuals
of this
population over 40 years.
* The "Endangered Species Act requires the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to
list imperiled populations of unique species.
Therefore, we support the proposed listing of Alabama's sturgeon
for
protection under the Endangered Species Act.
The petition was signed by professional biologists with nearly
800 years of
experience in the field. The scientists signed the petition as
individuals,
not on behalf of their employers or institutions. The names on
the list are
the who's who in the scientific community (Drs. Herbert Boschung,
Ken Marion,
Rick Mayden, George Folkerts, and 29 more!). The signitures were
gathered
between the week of August 10-14. The response was overwhelming,
and would
have even been much greater had the signitures been gathered during
the
school year. The petition was also signed by 2 of the 4 scientists
who had
written papers originally opposed to the first Alabama Sturgeon
listing
proposal in the early 90's.
The ESA requires the listing of a species to be based on the
best available
scientific data and knowledge. These 33 scientists coming from
8 Alabama
institutions of higher education and Alabama Power, have sent
a strong
message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in support of the
Alabama
Sturgeon. (*Ed. Note below)
2. Mobile NEP Releases "Our Water, Our Future"
- The Mobile National Estuary
Program (NEP) has released "Our Water, Our Future" a
colorful, dynamic and
easy to read digest of the Bay and the Delta region. The 64 page
report is
the result of a three year study and community effort sponsored
by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. "Our Water, Our Future"
is a preview to the
technical Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan that
will be
released this later this year.
If you care about Mobile Bay and the Delta, "Our Water,
Our Future" is a
magnificent resource which is free to the public.
You can request a free copy at: - Mobile Bay NEP, 440 Fairhope
Ave. Fairhope,
Al. 36532, phone: 334-990-3565 or e-mail Joe Strange at
jstrange@faulkner.cc.al.us This document is a true "gift"
and a must read!
3. EPA Seeking Lead Right to Know Comments - EPA is
considering expanding the
public's "right to know" about lead pollution. Even
at low levels, lead can
damage a child's developing nervous system, resulting in symptoms
ranging
from slowed growth to learning and behavior problems. Lead is
not only
toxic in small quanitities, but also persists in the environment
and builds
up in our bodies. It is estimated that more than 890,000 preschoolers
have
dangerously high levels of lead in their blood.
Right to Know information has been one of the most effective
tools in
fighting pollution and contamination. EPA needs to hear from citizens
during
the 45 day public comment period which will end September 17th.
For more
detailed information about EPA's Lead Right to Know proposal contact:
Jeremiah Baumann of US. Public Interest Research Group at 202-546-9707
or
jbaumann@pirg.org
4. What is a TMDL? Learn About TMDL's in Alabama - What
is a TMDL? The term
stands for Total Maximum Daily Load which is a calculation of
the maximum
amount of pollution that a waterbody can receive and still meet
water quality
standards. A TMDL is the sum of the allowable loads of a single
pollutant
from all contributing point and non-point sources. The calculation
must
include a margin of safety to ensure that the waterbody can be
used for the
purposes designated by the State.
EPA's Office of Water now has a "TMDL" website which
explains the Alabama
TMDL program, provides a map of Alabama's impaired and threatened
waters and
lists the 1998 State TMDL priorities. This website educates citizens
about
pollution sources/problems in their watershed, and more importantly
"flags"
the waters/lakes/rivers that are impaired and need to be cleaned
up.
If you are interested in learning more about TMDL's and your
watershed visit
the TMDL website at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/states/al.html
5. Environmental Positions and Other Tidbits - For people
seeking a job in
the environmental community, the following two regional positions
were posted
last week.
Southeast Regional Organizer - The National Wildlife Federation
is seeking a
regional organizer to be staffed in their Atlanta office. The
new organizer
position is responsible for building strategic partnerships, developing
volunteer leadership and mobilizing an effective grassroots network.
The
state of Alabama is within the organizer's region. For more information
about
the position, contact NWF's Southeast Natural Resource Center
at 404-876-8733
for additional details.
Regional Director - The League of Conservation Voters Education
Fund is
seeking a regional director to manage their Southeastern-based
field program.
LCV is looking for someone with 3 years campaign experience, message
development knowledge and experience managing staff in the field.
Please
send a resume and cover letter to Search Coordinator, LCV Education
Fund,
1707 L Street, NW Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20036. The deadline
is
September 1.
Here Are Some Tidbits:
Pollution Prevention in the Home - ADEM will be holding a "Pollution
Prevention in the Home" seminar on Saturday, September 18th
from 9:00 A.M. to
12:30 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. To register for the
seminar, call
Gavin Adams (ADEM) at 334-394-4353 or in Birmingham, Shelly Green
at
205-980-1914. The seminar should be very informative and it is
free!
Cahaba Cajun Feast - Mark your calendars! The Cahaba River
Society will be
holding its 9th Annual Cahaba Cajun Feast on Friday, September
24th from 6:00
to 9:00. There will be great food, live music by Nuit Blanche,
Cajun dancing
and a live auction. Tickets are on sale for $75, with proceeds
benefiting
the Cahaba River Society. For more info contact and order your
tickets at
205-322-5326.
On Newstands - "Water Watch - The Health of Alabama's
Waterways" is a well
written comprehensive 3 full page article about Alabama and water
quality.
The article, which is written by Tara Hulen, appears in the August
12-19
edition of Birmingham Weekly, a free alternative newspaper. For
more
information contact the Weekly at 205-322-2426.
On the Web - People can now access the award winning publication/series
by
the Mobile Register "A Wildeness Despite Us" at:
http:www.al.com/mobile/delta/delta2/
* Editor Note - In the spirit of full disclosure, I organized
and released
the Alabama Sturgeon petition at the Mobile River Basin Coalition
meeting in
Montgomery. I was asked by the Coalition to present the pro-listing
side of
the Alabama Sturgeon debate on Tuesday August 17th. If you have
any
questions about the presentation or the petition please contact
me at
205-254-8805. - PB
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
