1) Pre-Filed Bills: Brownfields and Enviro Justice Legislation Introduced
2) Environmental Health Summit Releases Startling Alabama Statistics
3) Rep. Spencer Bachus Honored By Cahaba River Society
4) Alabama's Deer Population Explosion
5) Alabama's Leading Hummingbird Advocates Featured On National TV
6) BEN Notes: Little River Canyon Field School Announces New Schedule, Ireland Youth Wildlife Contest, Whitewater Races On the Locust Fork River, American Lung Association of Alabama's Golf Card Available, Governor's Environmental Commission Report To Be On the Web

1. Pre-Filed Bills: Brownfields and Enviro Justice Legislation Introduced - In little more than a week, the Alabama Legislature will begin its regular session on Tuesday, February 6th. According to a review of the more than 90 House bills that have been "pre-filed," six pieces of legislation are environmentally related and have been assigned bills numbers. These bills include:

HB9 - This legislation provides for the reduction of toxic waste in environmental high impact areas; this bill requires risk assessments by ADEM, technical assistance, monitoring/compliance programs, incentive programs, creation of a cleanup fund and prohibition of new facilities in certain areas. The bill would also require the State Health officer to issue a public report on the incidences of diseases, based on counties, which assesses health risks posed by releases of toxic substances. Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Mitchell of Mobile County.

HB22 - To make a $100,000 appropriation from the State General Fund to the Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation (WRATT), a pollution prevention organization. Sponsor: Rep. John Knight of Montgomery

HB23 - To provide for the $500,000 of hazardous waste fees that are deposited in the ALERT fund to also be used to fund waste reduction technology projects. Sponsor: Rep Nelson Starkey of Florence

HB74 - Legislation to create and adopt the Alabama Land Recycling and Economic Redevelopment Act (Brownfield legislation) to be administered by ADEM. (I have been informed by supporters of this legislation that there are changes to the bill not included on the website version) Sponsor: Rep. Terry Spicer of Enterprise

HB75 - Legislation would allow ADEM to adopt rules and regulations relating to fees to cover the costs of the enforcement of permits, licenses, certificates, and inspection of regulated facilities. Sponsor: Rep. Ron Johnson of Talladega County

HB81 - This legislation reforms the solid waste local approval process and public notification rules. Sponsor: Rep. Bill Dukes of Decatur

If you are interested in reading these bills, visit the Alabama Legislature's website at: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/prefiled/house_prefiled.html

2. Environmental Health Summit Releases Startling Alabama Statistics - In a recent University of Alabama at Birmingham public health study, the scientists found that 14% of Birmingham-area children enrolled in the head start program had asthma, while another 20-30% had symptoms of undiagnosed asthma. These statistics, along with data showing high incidences of lead poisoning in children were announced at the Children's Environmental Health Summit in Birmingham last Friday (January 26).

The summit identified exposure to pesticides, poisons, cigarette smoke and lead as leading "risks" to children's health. UAB pediatric nursing professor and organizer of the summit Dr. Anne Turner- Henson stated in a Birmingham News interview, "Every time we looked at the data, I got scared. Children's developing brains, nervous systems and immune systems make them particularly vulnerable to toxic threats."

To learn more about environmental health threats confronting our children, contact Dr. Anne Turner-Henson at 205-975-2044 or visit the following websites:

EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection - http://www.epa.gov/children
Community Health Status Indicators - http://www.communityhealth.hrsa.gov

3. Rep. Spencer Bachus Honored By Cahaba River Society - On Thursday, January 25th, the Cahaba River Society (CRS) honored several leading "defenders and advocates" of the Cahaba River. The most notable award winner was Congressman Spencer Bachus of Birmingham who shared the "Cahaba Vision" award with the Nature Conservancy of Alabama, for their successful Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge legislative campaign.

Other CRS honorees included, David Cunningham - Cahaba Conservationist of the Year, The Committee for the Preservation of Lake Purdy - Outstanding River Advocate, Thrifty Car Rental - Small Business Friend of the Year, and Katherine Bouma, Mike Bolton, and Patrick Hickerson of the Birmingham News - Print Journalism of the Year.

4. Alabama's Deer Population Explosion - The recovery of Alabama's deer population over the last 60 years is one of the most successful wildlife restoration stories in our nation's history. In the 1940's there were only 16,000 deer in Alabama. Deer populations were extirpated in almost every county in the state. As a result of over 60 years of innovative wildlife conservation programs, Alabama now has more than 1.8 million deer, ranking us second in the U.S. for the largest deer population.

According to a Sunday's (Jan. 28) Birmingham News, Alabama's white-tailed deer population "teeters out of control." Outdoor writer Mike Bolton front page story documents the population explosion (Alabama's deer population has increased 400,000 in 10 years) and its effect on state parks and traffic accidents. For example, law enforcement officials recorded 14,203 collisions between vehicles and animals in the past five years, with about 95% involving deer. Those accidents produced 1,248 injuries and 14 deaths.

Despite the dramatic increase in deer, they are not starving for food according to wildlife scientists. But their search for food has brought them out of rural woods and into harm's way.

5. Alabama's Leading Hummingbird Advocates Featured On National TV - The A&E network's new show "Travels with Harry" (Harry Smith, formerly of CBS) premiered this weekend (Jan. 27-28) with a segment featuring Alabama's own Bob and Martha Sargent. Founders of the Hummer/Bird Study Group, Bob and Martha have dedicated their lives toward the study and preservation of hummingbirds and neo-tropical birds. "Travels with Harry" featured the work of the Sargent's educational efforts and the Fort Morgan Bird Banding Station.

An "Alabama treasure," The Hummer/Bird Study Group (HBSG) and the Sargents reached over 10,000 people last year through entertaining presentations and banding efforts. It is truly great to see their efforts recognized on national television. To learn more about the HBSG, visit their website at http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org

6. BEN Notes: Little River Canyon Field School Announces New Schedule, Ireland Youth Wildlife Contest, Whitewater Races On the Locust Fork River, American Lung Association of Alabama's Golf Card Available, Governor's Environmental Commission Report To Be On the Web

Little River Canyon Field School Announces New Schedule - The Little River Canyon Field School at Jacksonville State University has announced its new schedule for the 2001 season. If you want to expand your knowledge about the natural world, this is one of the South's best year-round environmental education programs. To learn more about the field school and its schedule, call Jacksonville State at 256-782-5697 or visit their website at http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic/LRCFS.html

Ireland Youth Wildlife Contest - Once again, the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF), Alabama Department of Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge are teaming up to promote this year's Ireland Youth Wildlife Art Contest and the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest throughout Alabama. Both contest are opened to public, private and home school students in grades K-12 across Alabama. The deadline is March 15th.

For more info about entering the Ireland Youth Wildlife Art Contest, contact AWF at 1-800-822-9453. Questions regarding the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest should be directed to Kathy Whaley at 256-350-6639.

Whitewater Races On the Locust Fork River - One of the best ways to protect a river is to get people to enjoy it. The Friends of Locust Fork River (FLFR) is supporting the annual Whitewater races on the river to be held Feb. 10th and March 24th. If you would like to help support FLFR and the races (and have a lot of fun!) contact Martha Hunter at marthahunter@juno.com or call 205-466-3558.

American Lung Association of Alabama's Golf Card Available - For all you BEN readers who dream of being the next Tiger Woods every weekend on the golf links - check out the great benefits you get for purchasing the American Lung Association's (ALA) Golf Card. Proceeds from the sale of the 2001 Golf Card support the ALA efforts to combat air pollution and asthma (check out story #2). To learn more the Golf Card or better to order one, call 205-933-8821 or visit their website at http://www.alabamalung.org

Governor's Environmental Commission Report To Be On the Web - A copy of Governor Don Siegelman's Commission on Environmental Initiatives report should be on the web by Tuesday, January 30th. It can be accessed at http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic/ACEI.html

Please share BEN with friends and fellow conservationists. If you have any questions or comments about this publication, contact Pat Byington, the author and publisher of BEN at 205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com To receive back issues of BEN, please go to our website at: http://www.BamaNews.com