January 12, 2002

#166

1) Senator Richard Shelby Seeks Hearing On EPA's Handling of PCB Case
2) Georgia and Alabama Extend Water Talks
3) Environmental Bills Introduced This Week
4) Alabama Coastal Birding Trail a Reality
5) Governor's Environmental Commission Chair Seeking Comments On Water Use Plans
6) BEN Notes: Help Wanted - TNC Seeks Fire Management/Stewardship Technician, Gulf Guardian Award Applications Due, Governor's Smart Growth and Brownfield Redevelopment Conference Scheduled, Water Quest 2002 Registration, Physical Fitness Town Hall Meetings
7) Websites Featured in BEN #166

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1. Senator Richard Shelby Seeks Hearing On EPA's Handling of PCB Case - According to the Birmingham News, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby has called for a congressional hearing into the federal Environmental Protection Agency's handling of PCB pollution in Anniston, Alabama. Sen. Shelby's request was issued a day after opening statements were made in a civil trial where mor than 3500 Anniston residents have accused Monsanto Co. of knowingly poisoning people and the environment and then concealing the danger to the community.

In a written statement to the appropriate EPA oversight committee asking for a hearing, Sen. Shelby stated, "The Environmental Protection Agency has a legal responsibility to ensure that the law has been followed in an appropriate manner and that citizens of the area are protected from any future contamination."

Sen. Shelby also stated, "I also believe that companies who create pollution and contamination should be held responsible for any cleanup efforts deemed safe and appropriate, not the American taxpayer."

-2. Georgia and Alabama Extend Water Talks - Negotiators from Alabama and Georgia agreed this week to extend "water war" talks for one full year (until Jan.15, 2002). Hampered by numerous short extension times and deadlines, negotiators and stakeholder groups believe the one year extension and deadline will help them "bridge" the remaining differences between the states.

This new extension pertains only to the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basin. Next week, Alabama, Georgia and Florida will discuss extending the Appalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river basin (ACF) talks. Any potential agreement that comes out of these negotiations will "chart" the direction for water usage and environmental protection/water quality for the next 50 years in the two river basins.

3. Environmental Bills Introduced This Week - The Alabama Legislature convened the 2002 Regular session this week. The following is a list of environmentally related bills that were introduced this week. To access and read legislation online, visit the Alabama Legislature's website at http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp

HB 31 - Compliance Assurance Fees - This bill financially strengthen ADEM's enforcement program. Sponsored by Rep. Johnson.
HB 44 - Scrap Tire Bill - This bill levies a $1 fee on tires. Funds from the fee will cleanup scrap tire dumps and help fund enforcement efforts. Sponsored by Rep. Gipson.
HB 55 and SB 29 - Vessel Dumping - This bill will prohibits dumping of sewage from vessels into Alabama lakes and streams. Sponsored by Rep. Venable and Sen. Preuitt.
HB 54 and SB 109 - Solid Waste Bill - Clarifies local approval on solid waste landfills and adds local fees. Sponsored by Rep. Dukes and Sen. Roberts.
HB 187 and SB 179 - WRATT Funding - Bills fund the Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation. Sponsored by Sen. Bedford and Rep. Knight.
SB 43 - Health Department Lead Advisory Committee - Bill creates an advisory committee to tackle lead poisoning. Sponsored by Sen. Smitherman.
SB 79 - Family Farm Preservation Act - Prevents farms from being sued for nuisances if they meet federal and local laws. Sponsored by Sen. Butler.
SB 201 - Village Creek Society Appropriation - Bill appropriates monies to the Village Creek Society. Sponsored by Sen. Smitherman.
SB 229 - Clean Indoor Air - Prohibits smoking in public places. Sponsored by Sen. Figures.

-4. Alabama Coastal Birding Trail a Reality - After several years of planning and development the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is now a reality. The 50-site trail consists of a series of six "loops" that crisscross Mobile Bay Incorporated in the design of the trail are three anchors, the Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge/Fort Morgan and the Mobile River Delta system.

According to trail organizers each loop takes a half a day or more to explore. Last year an official guidebook was written by Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary director John Porter, to help a visitor locate the 50 sites along the trail and provide descriptions of the many bird species. For more information about this new and exciting trail visit http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com

-5. Governor's Environmental Commission Chair Seeking Comments On Water Use Plans - Pete Conroy, chair of the Governor's Commission on Environmental Initiatives (ACEI) is requesting public comment on three water use policy proposals that have been developed by an ACEI committee. Comments will help formulate the Commission's water policy recommendations to be presented to Governor Don Siegelman this month. To read the three proposals visit the ACEI website at http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic/WaterPolicyReview.html . Mr. Conroy will be taking comments until Friday, January 18th.

-6. BEN Notes: Help Wanted - TNC Seeks Fire Management/Stewardship Technician, Gulf Guardian Award Applications Due, Governor's Smart Growth and Brownfield Redevelopment Conference Scheduled, Water Quest 2002 Registration, Physical Fitness Town Hall Meetings

TNC Seeks Fire Management/Stewardship Technician - The Nature Conservancy of Alabama is seeking two (2) Fire Management/Stewardship Technicians (FMST) to work for them between February 1, 2002 to June 30, 2002. The FMST assists the TNC's Director of Stewardship in preparing for and executing prescribed burns on property owned and managed by TNC in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Interested? Send a cover letter, resume, references (at least 3, including phone numbers) to Keith Tassin, Nature Conservancy, 2821 2nd Avenue South, STE. C, Birmingham, Alabama 35233 or e-mail ktassin@tnc.org . Closing date for this position is January 16th.

Gulf Guardian Award Applications Due - The Gulf of Mexico Program partnership developed the "Gulf Guardian Awards" two years ago as a way to recognize and honor businesses, community groups and individuals and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. Last year, the Weeks Bay Watershed Pollution Prevention Project and the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow River Watershed Management Authority were among 18 winners of the annual award for the five Gulf coast states.

To learn about this award and to receive an application visit the Gulf of Mexico website at http://www.gmpo.gov . You can also request a copy of the application via telephone by calling 228-688-1159 (they can fax you the necessary forms). The deadline for this award program is January 15th.

Governor's Smart Growth and Brownfield Redevelopment Conference Scheduled - For the past few months, in a joint effort, the Governor's Commerce and Environmental Commissions have been planning a first of its kind event in Alabama - a conference focusing on Smart Growth/Brownfield Redevelopment. Both commissions have received support from a diverse coalition of civic, environmental, government and business organizations.

The event will be held March 21st and 22nd at Birmingham Southern College. Governor Don Siegelman will be a featured speaker, along with the Conservation Fund's Ed McMahon and Governor of Maryland Governor Parris Glendening (invited). Make sure to reserve these dates on your calendar. More information will be forthcoming soon in future editions of BEN.

Water Quest 2002 Registration - Don't forget to register for Water Quest 2002 this week. The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will be holding WaterQuest & Nonpoint Source Watershed Forum 2002, January 23-24 at the Birmingham Marriott. Everything you ever wanted to know about water quality and the latest regulatory trends will be discussed at this three day conference. For more information about the conference and to access a registration form go to http://www.bcatoday.org/events_bcaevents.cfm

Physical Fitness Town Hall Meetings - Developing walking trails and greenways will be one of the main topics of discussion at the eight (8) town hall meetings on physical fitness scheduled this month. Please try to attend a meeting in your community. Meetings will held at the following locations.

Jacksonville State University - Tuesday, January 22nd, 5:00 p.m.
Tuscaloosa, place to be announced - Wednesday, January 23rd, 2:00 p.m.
Birmingham City Hall - Thursday, January 24th, 5:00 p.m.
Huntsville Hilton Hotel - Monday, January 28th, 5:00 p.m.
Auburn University at Montgomery - Tuesday 29th, 5:00p.m.
Lee County Extension Service, Opelika - Wednesday, January 30th, 4:00 p.m.
Mobile Junior League Headquarters - Thursday, January 31st, 5:00 p.m.
Dothan Civic Center - Tuesday, February 5th, 5:00 p.m.

For additional information on locations and the format of these meetings, contact Ronnie Floyd, Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness at 334-242-4496.

-7. Websites Featured in BEN #166 -

Alabama Legislation: http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp

Alabama Coastal Birding Trail: http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com

Governor's Commission on Environmental Initiatives - Water Policy http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic/WaterPolicyReview.html

Gulf of Mexico - Gulf Guardian Awards: http://www.gmpo.gov

Water Quest 2002: http://www.bcatoday.org/events_bcaevents.cfm
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Please share BEN with friends and fellow conservationists. If you have any questions or comments about this publication or would like your address to be removed from the BEN e-mail list, contact Pat Byington, the author and publisher of BEN at 205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com.