February 3, 2002

#169

1) Governor Vows To Sue Over Incinerator Safety
2) B'ham News: ADEM Funding Far Below Neighboring States
3) WildLaw Files 60 Notice Against TVA/RSA Proposal
4) More Enviro Legislation: Bills Introduced Last Month
5) BEN Notes : Camp Cosby Outdoor Enviro. Education Position, Environmental
Education Association of Alabama 2002 Conference, Legacy Earth Day/Month
Grants, Wild Alabama's New Magazine
6.) Websites Featured in BEN #169

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It is with great sadness that I announce that Robert (Bob) McCollum, 38, Coordinator of the Nongame Wildlife Program of the Department of Conservation's Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, passed away January 22nd. Bob was a great champion for Alabama's Biodiversity.

Bob is survived by his wife Deborah Ann (Debbi) McCollum, Education Director of the Montgomery Zoo, and his son, Miles Thomas McCollum. A memorial fund, in the form of a scholarship trust for Miles has been established. Donations may be sent c/o Ms. Angelique Suzanne, Education Department, Montgomery Zoo, 329 Vandiver Blvd., Montgomery, Alabama 36110. Checks should be made out to Miles McCollum.

In honor and memory of Bob's effort's on behalf of Alabama's environment, BEN is publishing the latest figures from the Nature Conservancy's Alabama Natural Heritage Program on the importance of Alabama's biodiversity. Bob's work lives on.

* Alabama has more species of mussels, snails and crayfish than any other state.

* Alabama ranks second in the nation in number of fish species.

* Alabama waters contain:
- 61% of nation's mussels, 7 found only in Alabama
- 38% of the nation's fish, 11 found only in Alabama
- 49% of the nation's turtles, 1 found only in Alabama
- 43% of the nation's aquatic snails, 106 found only in Alabama
* More than 4000 vascular plant species, 4th most diverse in nation
* 20 plant species are found only in Alabama

1.Governor Vows To Sue Over Incinerator Safety - On Friday (Feb. 1), Gov. Don Siegelman announced plans to file suit next week, to stop the Army from starting its chemical weapons incinerator in Calhoun County before the federal government releases $40.5 million for community safety.

"I want to make it perfectly clear to the federal government that they are not going to even so much as strike a match within the borders of Alabama until they meet their obligation under this agreement," Siegelman stated at a Birmingham press conference reported by the Birmingham News.

The Defense Department has committed to spending $40.5 million for equipment and other safety measures, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency has refused to provide the money, arguing against buying protective hoods for the incinerator's neighbors. On Friday, FEMA did announce it was releasing $25 million for planning, public education, response plans and equipment. FEMA said the other $15.5 million is expected as soon as it can "ensure the entire allocation will be used for proven protective measures in the state."

2. B'ham News: ADEM Funding Far Below Neighboring States - According to a Birmingham News special report, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's (ADEM) state funding has declined 19% since 1991. In contrast, nationally, state environmental funding increased140% between 1986 and 1996 according to a study by the Environmental Council of the States.

Here are some of the findings reported in the Birmingham News.

* ADEM has 10.6 employees for every 100,000. Mississippi has 15.7.
* Per square mile other state environmental agencies on average spent 28 times more than Alabama.
* As a portion of state revenues, Alabama is the lowest in the Southeast. In 1998, the state spent less than 1/8 of one percent of its revenues on the environment. That is compared to 1% nationwide.
* State water spending (per square mile of water) - Alabama spends $777, Florida $4,812, Georgia $7,094, Tennessee $7,015, Mississippi $1,908.

3. WildLaw Files 60 Notice Against TVA/RSA Proposal - WildLaw, a public interest environmental law firm, has filed a 60 day notice letter to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), stating that it intends to file suit against TVA under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) over any proposal to allow the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) to build a golf course on TVA reservation land in Muscle Shoals. The firm filed the notice on behalf of Wild Alabama.

The controversial proposal (the local paper, the Times Daily, published 3 pages full of letters to the editor), could impact five (5) species listed under the ESA and one of the world's last remaining beds of endangered mussels. Along with the lawsuit, several groups have also called for a full environmental impact study and TVA consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. RSA is calling for a decision on the Shoals proposal by March.

For more information about the WildLaw notice, visit their website at http://www.wildlaw.org

4. More Enviro Legislation: Bills Introduced Last Month - Since the opening of the Alabama legislative session in early January, four additional environmental bills have been introduced since BEN last updated our readers on state legislative matters. Here is a description of each bill.

SB 34 - Public Transportation - This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Department of Transportation to spend gas taxes on public transportation. This bill is sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham.

HB 281 - Environmental Management Commission - This bill changes the Environmental Management Commission's appeals process. Sponsored by Rep. Sue Schmitz of Madison County.

SB 298 - Re-Directing ADEM Fines - Fines collected by ADEM, by law go directly into the state general fund. This bill directs a portion of a $300,000 fine levied by ADEM on Bredero Price, a pipe manufacturing company in Mobile, toward the Mobile Air Quality Study and possible acquisition of land in the affected area. Sponsored by Sen. George Callahan of Mobile County.

SB 324 - Lee County Quarry - This bill imposes a one year moratorium on ADEM for quarry permits in Lee County. Sponsored by Sen. Ted Little of Auburn.

To review other bills that have been introduced this session log onto BamaNews.com and read the January 12th BEN edition - http://www.bamanews.com/BEN-1-12-02.html#3 The legislature has already passed and had sign into law by Gov. Siegelman, the vessel dumping bill (thanks to the Department of Conservation) and last week the State Senate passed the Clean Indoor Air Act.http://timesdaily.com/news/stories/13568newsstories.html

5. BEN Notes: Camp Cosby Outdoor Enviro. Education Position, Environmental Education Association of Alabama 2002 Conference, Legacy Earth Day/Month Grants, Wild Alabama's New Magazine

Camp Cosby Outdoor Enviro. Education Position - Birmingham YMCA Camp Cosby is presently taking applications for a Director of Outdoor Environmental Education. Interested applicants are invited to contact Camp Cosby's Executive Director, Wheaton Griffin, at wgriffin@ymcabham.org . Camp Cosby's web site is http://www.campcosby.org

Environmental Education Association of Alabama 2002 Conference - Come see "Hooray for Herps!" ... "Plants in the Pantry"... and "Canoeing the Cahaba", at the Environmental Education Association of Alabama's annual science and environmental education conference March 7th to the 9th at Camp Kanawahala in Chelsea, Alabama. The total conference package (two night and three meals) costs $75, while registration without camp lodging is $50. For more information and a registration application, contact Emily Kling, at 334-844-2226 or email ekling@aces.auburn.edu . Read about the conference at http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/jan31a02.html

Legacy Earth Day/Month Grants - Planning an Earth Day or Earth Month activity this Spring? Legacy can provide up to $250 for environmental organizations that are coordinating Earth Day educational events in April. To apply for a grant visit the Legacy website at http://www.legacyenved.com or call 334-270-5921. The Earth Day applications are due March 1st.

Wild Alabama's New Magazine - "Protecting Endangered Landscapes and Our Cultural Heritage," Wild Alabama Magazine released its 24th edition last week. A colorful 80 page magazine, Wild Alabama does not pull any punches in its defense of Alabama's environmental and cultural heritage. For subscription orders or information about Wild Alabama call 256-974-6166. Or visit their website at http://www.wildalabama.org

6. Websites Featured in BEN #169

WildLaw
http://www.WildLaw.org

Bama Environmental News
http://www.bamanews.com/BEN-1-12-02.html#3

Camp Cosby
http://www.campcosby.org

Legacy
http://www.legacyenved.com

Wild Alabama
http://www.WildAlabama.org
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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.