1. Construction Plans At Oak Mountain State Park Shelved - The paving of the Red Trail and various other proposed construction projects at Oak Mountain State Park appear dead for now after thousands of e-mails and letters from the public flooded the Department of Conservation.

"We're getting hundreds a day - letters and e-mails," stated State Parks Director Marcus Easterwood in the Birmingham News. Not one of the responses from the public has been in favor of the paving or other construction at Oak Mountain State Park.

Earlier this year planners hired by the state parks system proposed a series of changes that ranged from adding a second golf course to paving Peavine Falls Road and Red Road. After the proposals were announced in local newspapers, the reaction was swift and negative against the changes.

In the coming weeks, State Parks officials hope to meet with groups ranging from the Wildflower Society to hiking groups about park renovation plans.

2. Gov. Riley Goes To Court Over Georgia Water Agreement - Last week, Governor Bob Riley filed a temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court in Birmingham to block a Georgia water settlement aimed at pumping more water from the Chattahoochie River to Atlanta businesses and homes.

The settlement, between the state of Georgia and the U.S. Corps of Engineers, would give residents of Atlanta up to 50% more water over the next 10 years. The deal would also increase the city's water bills. State officials and environmentalists from Alabama claim the new settlement will would lower water quality and lake levels. Florida officials have also called the settlement illegal and said it could jeopardize negotiations between the three states as they continue to work on diving their water resources.

Riley said the settlement in Georgia "violates the spirit of the negotiations."

3. State of Tobacco Control In Alabama - The American Lung Association recently released its State of Tobacco Control report for 2002. The grades were not good.

According to the report, Alabama scores "Fs" in the Smokefree Air, Youth Access, Cigarette Taxes and Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending categories. Alabama remains the only state in the Union without a statewide smoking policy.

On the issue of money, Alabama receives more than $100 million a year in tobacco settlement funds. Out of that amount, only $360,000 is spent on tobacco prevention programs. In fact, last year while the Clean Indoor Air Act was being defeated, the legislature authorized the governor to release $500,000 of the settlement to subsidize Alabama tobacco farmers - even though they farm only 300 acres in the entire state.

4. USPIRG Release Report On Toxic Pollution - Last month, the U. S, Public Interest Research Group released a report called "Toxic Releases and Health: A Review of Pollution Data and Current Knowledge on the Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals." Included in the report are maps detailing information about toxic releases linked to cancer, neurological effects, reproductive effects, respiratory effects, and developmental effects.

Using the federal database known as the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), the report found that from 1987 to 2000 the Axis, Alabama (in Mobile County) zip code led the nation in toxic releases linked to reproductive and child development problems. The Acordis rayon plant accounted for most of the toxic releases in that community. It closed in mid-2001.

The report calls for health studies linking TRI data with an environmental health tracking system. Currently, Congress is spending $17.5 million on such a system, with about $270 million a year needed to fund a full-fledged national program. Presently, Alabama does not participate in the national pilot program.

To read the Toxic and Health report online, visit the USPIRG website at http://www.uspirg.org

5. Dugger Mountain and SELC Featured In Southern Living Magazine - Check out the January and February editions of the Southern Living Magazine for articles in the magazine's Outdoors South section featuring Dugger Mountain, Alabama's newest wilderness area and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC).

These one page feature articles highlight recent success stories about people making a difference in the South. For more information about the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area, contact the U.S. Forest Service of Alabama at 334-832-4470. For info about the SELC visit their website at http://www.southernenvironment.org

6. BEN Notes - Stormwater BMP Academy to be Held, Former Conservation Commissioner Smith Honored, Alabama Rivers Alliance Founding ED Leaving, Mobile Bay NEP Stewardship Award

Stormwater BMP Academy to be Held - A Stormwater BMP Academy will be held February 27-28 at the Cypress Workshop on the Bookley Complex in Mobile. This 2 day workshop will address topics including rain gardens, permeable paving, stormwater wetlands and stormwater BMPs. Attendance is limited to 40 and the deadline is February 14th. For more info about this event, call Jody Scanlan at 251-438-5690 or Lee Yokel at 251-431-6409.

Former Conservation Commissioner Smith Honored - Last month, the Alabama Wildlife Federation honored outgoing Conservation Commissioner Riley Boykin Smith. At the banquet in his honor, Assistant Commissioner Rick Liles listed Smith's accomplishments over the past four years. The following is just a sampling of some of those achievements:

Marine Sewage Bill passed to forbid discharge of untreated sewage into Alabama waterways.
An unprecedented 19 bills passed into law providing more dollars for fish and wildlife conservation, state parks, marine police.
Approval of Coastal Impact Assistance Programs Plan - $20 million
Acquisition of 47,000 acres in the Mobile -Tensaw Delta
Acquisition of 32,000 acres in Lauderdale and Colbert Counties to expand Wildlife Management Areas.
Created the Alabama Bass Trail and Alabama Hunting and Fishing Trail for People With Physical Disabilities.
Developed the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program and the Fish for Food Program. Each program supplies excess venison and fish to food banks.

Alabama Rivers Alliance Founding ED Leaving - Brad McLane, the founder and first director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance (ARA) has publicly announced his plans to resign his position this summer in order to pursue a law degree in the fall of 2003.

Founded in 1996, ARA grew out of a statewide coalition of organizations sharing a commitment to clean, healthy waters in Alabama. The Cahaba River Society chaired this coalition and helped foster the creation of the statewide Alabama Rivers Alliance. Under Mr. McLane's leadership the Alliance grew from a one person staff in 1997 to an organization with 5 staff and an annual operating budget of over $300,000.

Mobile Bay NEP Stewardship Award - This Spring The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) is once again sponsoring the 2003 Stewardship Awards. These awards honor individuals and entities for their accomplishments toward completing actions within the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Additionally, the program is designed to educate the public about successful participation in and adoption of positive environmental conservation practices. Nomination packets must be received in the Mobile Bay NEP office no later than March 21, 2003. For nomination information log onto the Mobile Bay NEP website at http://www.mobilebaynep.com and click on projects.