January 3, 2004

#212

"Public Good Before Private Advantage"

1) ADEM Announces Pollution Prevention Awards
2) Sierra Club Donates Funds For 40 Acre Bon Secour Purchase
3) Tree Study: Trees Worth $248 Million a Year In Birmingham Metro
4) BEN Notes: Al. Rivers Alliance Job Opening, Alabama Wildlife Federation's New Headquarters, 911 Environment Website, Alabama Fossils Website.

3M Specialty Materials in Decatur - 3M invested in ten projects that prevented the generation of 969 tons of solid/hazardous waste, 12 tons of wastewater and 14.5 tons of air emissions.

McNeil Nutritionals in McIntosh - McNeil, which produces the no-calorie sweetener Splenda, invested $1.7 million in a solvent recovery and recycling system that eliminated the facility's only continuous waste stream. Cost savings: $1.25 million a year from the elimination of the waste stream, plus a potential savings of $8 million a year from solvent related shutdowns.

3M in Guin - 3M is a producer of safety materials for the transportation industry. Its P2 projects during 2003 resulted in the prevention of 270 tons waste. Over the years, the plant has implemented over 35 P2 projects with total reductions of over 13 millions pounds of pollution.

Michelin Tire Corp in Dothan - Michelin produces over 8000 tires a day at its Dothan facility. Through innovative P2 programs in 2003, Michelin reduced 95% of liquid waste and a 25% reduction in raw materials.

Anniston Munitions Center in Anniston - The Munitions Center is involved in the maintenance and recycling of obsolete/unserviceable munitions. The center has designed a recycling process that replaces open burning/open detonation and represents a 98% reduction in hazardous waste generation and a near 100% reduction in air emissions.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Huntsville - Toyota initiated P2 activities prior to the construction of its plant by reducing and recycling the maximum amount of construction related wastes. Post-construction, Toyota decided to pursue the Zero Landfill Goal, as well as per unit goals for energy and air emissions.

2. Sierra Club Donates Funds For 40 Acre Bon Secour Purchase - Last fall, the Sierra Club of Alabama acquired a 40 acre tract of land which constitutes the last "inholding" of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Little Point Clear Unit, near the end of the Fort Morgan Peninsula.

The parcel contains some of the highest elevations in the area that presented a significant prospect of development in the midst of the Refuge. The Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust acted as the real estate agent for the Sierra Club. Funding for the property was obtained as a result of a mid-1990's lawsuit settlement in which the Sierra Club sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over inadequate habitat protection for the Alabama Beach Mouse. The fragile and important habitat will now be preserved.

3. Tree Study: Trees Worth $248 Million a Year In Birmingham Metro - According to a study conducted by the Storm Water Management Authority of Jefferson County, trees found within the Birmingham study Metro area are worth $248 million a year in air pollution and stormwater reduction.

The US Department of Agriculture provided the Stormwater Authority's 26 city coalition with a $200,000 grant to conduct this first of its kind three year study. The study called the "State of the Forest in the Cities of Jefferson County," examined the tree canopy throughout Jefferson County as well as within the Cahaba River Basin in St. Clair and Shelby counties using GIS technology.

Some of the study's findings include:

• The area's present tree canopy is worth $131 million a year in stormwater mitigation.
• The area's trees are worth $117 million a year in air pollution mitigation because they absorb ozone, particles and other pollution.
• Throughout the area studied, about 67% of the land is covered with trees. About 17% is other open space, such as meadows, and 3% is water. Impervious space, such as roads, parking lots and buildings, account for 13% of the land.
• Unincorporated Jefferson County had 72% tree canopy. About 53% of Birmingham is covered by trees.

The study was also supported by CAWACO RC&D Council, the Southern Environmental Center, Trees for Alabama and the City of Birmingham Department of Horticulture and Urban Forestry. For information about the study, contact Steve McKinney at the Stormwater Authority at 943-1941.

4. BEN Notes - Al. Rivers Alliance Job Opening, Alabama Wildlife Federation's New Headquarters, 911 Environment Website, Alabama Fossils Website

Al. Rivers Alliance Job Opening - The Alabama Rivers Alliance is seeking a Director of Development and Administration. To learn more about the position and how to apply, visit their website at http://www.alabamarivers.org/adminjob.htm.

Alabama Wildlife Federation's New Headquarters - The Alabama Wildlife Federation opened their new state headquarters - "Lanark" in Millbrook last spring. Check out their website at http://www.alawild.org and take a tour of this beautiful new location for Alabama's oldest and largest conservation organization.

911 Environment Website - Got an environmental problem? The Alabama Environmental Council, Alabama Rivers Alliance and the World Wildlife Fund have set up a website aimed at helping citizens respond to environmental problems. Go to http://www.911environment.org and learn how you can help protect Alabama's environment.

Alabama Fossils Website - Want to learn about what once lived deep in the coal mines of Walker County? Check out this great website on some of the "fossils of Alabama." Go to http://www.bama.ua.edu/~rbuta/monograph/index.html.