September 5, 2002

#185

1. State Parks To Spend $182 Million On Repairs
2. Attorney General Asked To Investigate Sewer Project
3. Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and the Environment
4. LCV Names Turnham Environmental Champion
5. BEN Notes: Water Resources Conference, American Rivers Report On Sprawl
and Water, NEMO Workshop Trainings, Alabama Wildflower Society's Next Meeting
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Forever Wild Car Tags
Since 1992, the Forever Wild Program in Alabama has preserved more than 85,000 acres of land.

Earlier this summer, the Forever Wild Board of Trustees approved the sale of a Forever Wild distinctive license plate. All proceeds from the sale of the Forever Wild car tag will go toward land preservation and acquisition. Over time, sales of the tags will raise millions of dollars for the Forever Wild Land Trust.

Presently, Friends of Forever Wild will pay the $50.00 fee and complete the required form for citizens wanting to participate in this program. To learn more about this exciting new program and to receive a copy of the new tag and forms - contact Joe Copeland at joec@powernet.org or 256-287-1652.

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1. State Parks To Spend $182 Million On Repairs - In the 1960's and 70's, the Alabama State Park System was considered a national model.

Unfortunately, mother nature and age have taken their toll on Alabama's state parks. In 1998, Alabama voters recognized the need to improve and update their parks when they overwhelmingly passed a $109 million state park improvement bond issue.

Last month, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources proposed $182 million in renovations for Alabama's 24 crumbling state parks. It is the biggest state park investment in Alabama history and the first since George Wallace was governor.

The Department of Conservation has been seeking input on the latest State Park Renovation Program master plan. Next week, public meetings will be held on September 9, 5:30 at the Gulf State Park and September 10, 5:30 at Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula. For more information about the renovations contact Department of Conservation at 334-242-3486.

2. Attorney General Asked To Investigate Sewer Project - According to the Birmingham News, the Alabama Environmental Council (AEC) and the Cahaba Group of the Sierra Club have asked Attorney General Bill Pryor to investigate Jefferson County officials for possible wrongdoing concerning the Cahaba Tunnel Sewer project.

In a letter to Attorney General Pryor, the groups asked the AG's office to investigate whether Jefferson County officials violated state laws governing open meetings, public records and competitive bidding. Along with the letters, the organizations enclosed Birmingham News articles quoting commissioners stating they have regularly participated in regular unannounced meetings. The AEC also accused county officials for failing to respond to its public records request about the tunnel sewer, which the group argues is a violation of the state open records law. The groups are also concerned possible state bid law violations have occurred resulting from the handing out of more than $20 million in sewer work through unbid professional service agreements and dozens of $50,000 contracts.

3. Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and the Environment -
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is a permanent community endowment whose mission is to serve the community by connecting caring people and key resources with community needs. It accomplishes this mission through grantmaking funds established by local individuals, families, businesses and agencies.

In 2001, The Community Foundation awarded some $9.4 million in more than 1200 grants. Out of that total, approximately 10 percent went to environmental organizations, primarily in the five county greater Birmingham area.

In 2000, The Community Foundation made one of its largest grants in the environmental area to The Nature Conservancy of Alabama. That grant was $375,000 over two years for the "Now and Forever Alabama: Save Our Last Great Places" capital campaign. In the most recent round of grantmaking, which ended March 15, 2002, grants were made to the Cahaba River Society (supporting Upper Cahaba River Planning), Southern Environmental Center (Woodlawn Ecoscape project), Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council (Landscape design in 72 municipalities) and several other groups based in the Birmingham metro area.

All of these grants were made from Unrestricted and Field of Interest Funds. For example, the Burnie and Verda Clifton Memorial Fund, a Field of Interest Fund with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham lists the environment as well as health and human services as the areas that it supports.

In addition, individuals, families and corporations can use The Community Foundation to make a difference in the charitable causes they care about by
setting up an Advised Fund for grantmaking. Once they establish a grantmaking fund, they can recommend grants from it to other nonprofit organizations.

To learn more about the Community Foundation and the wonderful service it provides to communities across the Birmingham metro area - call 205-328-8641 or visit their website at http://www.foundationbirmingham.org . While you are at the website, learn how to make a gift to the Foundation or if you work with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, applications for grant proposals can be accessed at the site. The Community Foundation's next grant proposal deadline is September 15th.

4. LCV Names Turnham Environmental Champion - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), the national "political arm" of the environmental community, has named Alabama 3rd District Congressional candidate Joe Turnham an "Environmental Champion."

"Joe Turnham has a proven record of fighting to strengthen eastern Alabama's economy and improve its environment," said Betsy Loyless, LCV political director.

Turnham, is no stranger to Alabama's environmental community. Four years ago, he helped found the Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters (AlaLeavs). He has also served on several statewide committees including the Scrap Tire Study Commission and the Governor's Commission on Environmental Initiatives.

Turnham is one of ten environmental champions (6 Democrats and 4 Republicans) named by LCV. He is the only "non-incumbent" champion chosen by the group. Check out LCV's profile on Joe Turnham by visiting their website at http://www.lcv.org/campaigns/champions/2002/01/01/champ_28173.asp

5. BEN Notes: Water Resources Conference, American Rivers Report On Sprawl
and Water, NEMO Workshop Trainings, Alabama Wildflower Society's Next Meeting
Water Resources Conference - If you care about water resource issues, this conference is a "must." "When the Water Runs Dry" will be held on September
9-10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in New Orleans. Sponsored by the EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program and environmental groups throughout the southeast, the conference will focus on maintaining the balance between human water use and environmental needs. For registration info visit http://www.epa.gov/gmpo

American Rivers Report On Sprawl and Water - Last week, American Rivers released a fascinating report on the "connections" between water usage and uncontrolled urban sprawl. The report provides some astonishing figures on the estimated amount of groundwater infiltration "lost" to sprawl in 18 of America's most rapidly suburbanizing metro areas. Check out the report at http://www.americanrivers.org

NEMO Workshop Trainings - What is "NEMO"? Is it something out of Star Trek?
No - "NEMO" (Nonpoint Source for Municipal Officials) is a highly effective educational program that addresses water quality issues in Alabama. Even though the program is geared toward educating municipal officials, it can also be used by the general public.

There are two NEMO-Alabama Training of Trainers Workshops scheduled this fall. If you care about watershed protection and water quality issues in your community, these workshops are an excellent opportunity to learn the latest info on protecting our water. Workshops are scheduled - September 19-20 in Tuscaloosa and October 24-25 in Mobile. For additional information about the attending one of these workshops (they are limited to 30 participants each) please contact Sue Robertson at srr2000@mindspring.com or 334-567-5313 , Patti Hurley at 334-393-4350 or Toby Bennington -205-251-8139.

Alabama Wildflower Society's Next Meeting - The Blanche Dean Chapter of the Alabama Wildflower Society will be hosting Jan Midgley, author of "Alabama Wildflowers," on September 9, 7:00 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. For information about the Alabama Wildflower Society, contact Verna Gates at vernagates@aol.com .