1. AEMC Releases Draft Strategic Plan - Nearly a year since it was proposed, the Alabama Environmental Management Commission, the board that oversees the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, has released a draft strategic plan.

The plan, which is 12 pages long, was created after the Commission received input from a diverse stakeholders' group, five public hearings throughout the state and meetings with ADEM staff. Some of the recommendations include:

The plan will be placed on the ADEM website in the next few days. You can access it by going to http://www.adem.state.al.us.

2. A League of Conservation Voters Issue Grades On Alabama Delegation - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), the political arm of the environmental movement, has released its 2003 National Environmental Scorecard. Once again, the Alabama delegation did not fare well. Here are their LCV scores.

Rep. Jo Bonner - 5%
Rep. Terry Everett - 5%
Rep. Michael Rogers - 5%
Rep. Robert Aderholt - 0%
Rep. Bud Cramer - 35%
Rep. Spencer Bachus - 15%
Rep. Artur Davis - 60%

Sen. Jeff Sessions - 5%
Sen. Richard Shelby - 5%

Votes on energy policy were an integral part of the analysis, as were individual votes on forest policy, global warming and Arctic drilling. To view a description of the votes the delegation were scored on and the entire scorecard, go to http://www.lcv.org.

3. National Sierra Club Asks For Shutdown of Chemical Weapons Incinerator - The U.S Army should halt chemical weapons incineration in Anniston, Alabama until advanced agent monitors are installed, resolved the Sierra Club's National Board of Directors this week.

This month, two incinerator workers were exposed to Sarin gas when performing activities associated with the processing of rockets that are being burned at the facility. The incident, along with a number of unplanned shutdowns at the facility, prompted the Sierra Club and 19 other environmental, civil rights and public health organizations to call for an investigation by the Pentagon and a shutdown of operations, earlier this month. The latest call for advanced chemical agents monitors to be installed, comes from passage of a "sense of Congress" resolution that the Army should deploy improved chemical agent monitors.

For additional information on the Sierra Club's stance and the chemical weapons incineration issue, go to http://www.cwwg.org.

4. BEN Notes: Project ROSE "Run for the Roses", Ruffner Mountain Magic Benefit, Community Foundation Annual Meeting, Youth Wildlife Art Contest, Groundwater Festival in South Alabama, Smart Growth for Coastal Alabama

Project ROSE "Run for the Roses" - TProject R.O.S.E. will hosting the 7th Annual "Run for the Roses" 5K Race and one mile walk/run on March 6th. Preregistration is $12.00 before March 4th and $15.00 the day of the race. Online registration is available at http://www.active.com . The race begins at 8:30 near the Amphitheater on the University of Alabama campus. Proceeds go toward the purchase and placement of collection tanks for used motor oil in rural areas of Alabama.

Ruffner Mountain Magic Benefit - On March 12th, Ruffner Mountain will be holding a benefit "Ruffner Mountain Magic" at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. There will be a buffet dinner, silent auction and some great music. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit Ruffner Mountain, a 1000 acre nature preserve in Birmingham. To order tickets go to info@ruffnermountain.org or go to http://www.ruffnermountain.org.

Community Foundation Annual Meeting - The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (CFGB) will be holding their Annual Meeting, March 11th at 4:00 p.m. in the Special Events Center at the McWane Center. CFGB has supported many environmental causes and organizations over the years including the Nature Conservancy, Cahaba River Society, Alabama Environmental Council and the Black Warrior - Cahaba River Land Trust. To register for the event please e-mail your name to annualmeeting@foundationbirmingham.org or call 205-328-8641 before March 5th.

Youth Wildlife Art Contest - The Alabama Wildlife Federation, along with the Department of Conservation and US Fish and Wildlife Service will be holding the Ireland Youth Wildlife Art Contest and Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest. The deadline for both contests is March 15th. For additional details about entering the Ireland Wildlife Art Contest, contact AWF at 1-800-822-9453. If you have questions about the Duck Stamp contest, please contact Kevin Hamrick at 256-350-6639.

Groundwater Festival in South Alabama - The first Annual South Baldwin County Groundwater Festival will be held on March 16th at the Loxley Church of God. Children activities will include making edible aquifers, building watershed models and learning about the hydrologic cycle by making the water cycle bracelet. Interested volunteers should contact Angela Browning at the Alabama Coastal Foundation, 251-990-6002.