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1) Bill Prohibits Destructive ATV's in Alabama's
Creek and River Beds ##################################################### 1. Bill Prohibits Destructive ATV's in Alabama's Creek and River Beds - Did you know that Alabama does not have a law to prohibit people with 3-wheel and 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) from driving their vehicles right down the middle of a creek? If Senate Bill #1 (now that is an easy bill number to remember) introduced by State Senator Ted Little passes this session, this environmentally destructive recreational activity would be prohibited within any river or stream in the state of Alabama. Incredibly, this kind of common sense legislation has not been passed by the Alabama legislature despite several attempts. Anyone who has ever witnessed this form of ecological terrorism can attest to the violent nature these recreational vehicles have on the waters and wildlife of the state. Several river activists have even witnessed people on ATV's running through Cahaba River lily habitat. Alabama river advocates support Senate Bill #1 and are calling for it to be strengthened to prohibit and prevent other vehicles such as "Jeeps", 4 wheel drive pickups, and any wheeled or tracked vehicle to be used in public streams for recreational purposes. For more information about this important and much needed bill, please contact Senator Little's office at 334-242-7800. 2. Cutting Wasteful and Eco-Harmful Spending: Alabama Delegation's Poor Record - According to the "Green Scissors Tally" report issued by Taxpayers for Common Sense Action, Friends of the Earth Action and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG), despite claims of being "fiscally conservative" the entire Alabama Congressional Delegation voted to spend on average more than $700 million on wasteful and environmentally destructive governmental programs in 1999. The report was based on the Green Scissors Campaign, a program that identifies and works to eliminate wasteful and environmentally destructive government programs, and the subsequent votes that were taken by House and Senate members. House members had the opportunity to make 7 Green Scissors votes during the 1999 session, while Senate members voted only 4 times on Green Scissors issues. In 1999, the Green Scissors Campaign, helped eliminate $300 million in wasteful spending, succeeding on 4 of the 7 votes in the House. Every Alabama House member voted 6 out of 7 votes incorrectly, except for Rep. Bud Cramer (D) of Huntsville who voted 7 out of 7 on wasteful programs. The Alabama Senate delegation voted 4 out of 4 on wasteful and anti-environmental votes that cost taxpayers up to $732 million dollars. The Green Scissors vote tally included votes on Hardrock Mining Subsidies, Sugar Subsidies, Money-Losing Timber Sales, Underpayment of Oil Royalties and road projects. Most of the votes were bipartisan, and in fact similar Southern states with the same political makeup (Rep/Dem) as Alabama, such as Virginia and Georgia, voted to support the Green Scissors Campaign and cut millions from the budget. For more detailed information about the Green Scissors Tally, visit the Friends of Earth Action website at: http://www.foeaction.org. 3) Coal Mining Drastically Shrinking in Alabama - Mine closings, global competition, new clean air pollution laws and the promise of cleaner and cheaper fuels are all contributing to the demise of Alabama's coal industry, according to a Sunday Mobile Register article written by environmental reporter Daniel Cusick. In this well-written Register article, the author explores the rapid decline of Alabama's coal industry and the effect it will have on the state's economic future. Last year, more than 750 miners, 18% of the mining workforce, experienced layoffs and mine closings. Along with job losses, the impact mining has on the state's transportation system is significant, especially on the state's rivers where coal makes up nearly half of all the tonnage transported. Coal also makes up 28% of the state's rail freight. On the environmental front, Alabama not only produces 25 million tons of coal a year but, it is the 8th largest consumer of coal in the U.S. producing 65% of the state's electrical needs and burning more than 30 million tons a year. Coal is linked to many Alabama environmental issues including
reclamation of abandoned mines, the ozone air pollution problems
in Mobile and Birmingham and the use of our waterways, including
the Tenn-Tom Waterway. To read more about these and many other
issues related to the decline of Alabama's coal industry, click
on to the following Mobile Register article: 4. Mobile's Mayor Dow Takes Strong Stand For Wetlands Protection - Last week, several environmental activists and the Mobile Press Register praised Mobile's Mayor Mike Dow for declaring in a letter to the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers that any destruction of wetlands in the Dog River watershed, which includes most of Mobile's streams and drainways, should be mitigated inside the same watershed. Mayor Dow's letter was in response to reports that several regulatory agencies have begun allowing developers to offset wetlands destruction in Mobile County by purchasing "credits" in a Baldwin County "wetlands bank." Obviously "banking" in a different region does not help mitigate the loss of wetlands in the area where they were actually destroyed. In an editorial praising Dow's action the Mobile Register called for even stronger action to be taken to prevent destruction of wetlands in the first place. The paper conclude it's editorial by stating, "... If Mobile Countians value the Dog River watershed, they'll insist that elected leaders put the brakes on the destruction of its wetlands - before it's too late." 5. Ducks Staying Away From North Alabama - Back to back dry years and a mild winter ruined what many thought was going to be a stellar duck hunting season in Alabama, reported the Decatur Daily in an article about the recently closed duck hunting season. "This is the driest I've ever seen it since I've been here," stated Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Manager Tuck Stone, who arrived in 1987. North Alabama has experienced a 2-foot rain deficit for 1998 and 1999, and up until two weeks ago the weather had been unseasonably warm. The weather is being blamed for the large drop-off of ducks visiting Alabama this winter. For example, The Wheeler Refuge normally hosts 50,000 to 75,000 wintering ducks. This year, only 25,000 to 30,000 ducks visited for most of the year, despite spring and summer nesting counts that indicated there would be a record number of waterfowls flying south this winter. 6. Alabama Rivers Alliance To Hold Statewide Watershed Leadership Conference - If you care about protecting watersheds, please try to attend the Watershed Leadership 2000 conference to be held March 31 to April 2 at Camp McDowell near Jasper. This is the premier annual conference for Alabama river advocates, sponsored by the Alabama Rivers Alliance. For more information contact Justin Ellis at 205-322-6395 or e-mail jellis@wwisp.com. You can see the conference's agenda by visiting ARA's website at: http://www.alabamarivers.org. 7. Bug Lovers Unite! Southeast Insect Symposium To Be Held In February - Last week Chris Oberholster made me aware of a great conference for "bug lovers". On Feb 29th, the Southeastern branch of the Entomological Society of America will be holding a symposium on "Insect Conservation in the Southeast: Trends, Issues & Opportunities." The meeting will be held in Mobile. For more information about the meeting's program visit the society's website at: http://www.entsoc.org/branches/southeast/meeting/2000/summary.html. 8. Wild Alabama Magazine On Newsstands Across Alabama - Lamar Marshall's 22nd edition of Wild Alabama is out on newsstands this month at local Books a Million stores. This month's 77 page colorful magazine features articles on Forest Service chief Mike Dombeck, a Wild Alabama Action Guide for the new Forest Service plan and interest stories about the Yuchi Indians and a recently discovered 1773 Arborglyph. If you are interested in subscribing to Wild Alabama, call them at 256-974-6166 or e-mail waruk@aol.com. A subscription is $14.95 a year for 4 editions. 9. ALALEAV's Seeking Executive Director - The Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters (ALALEAV's) is seeking a full time exective director. ALALEAV's is the political arm of the environmental community. Founded last year before the 1999 legislative session, ALALEAV's has experienced tremendous growth led by former Congressional candidate Joe Turnham and several of Alabama's top environmental advocates. A successful candidate will be responsible for implementing ALALEAV's strategic, fundraising and organizational plans and a successful politcal/voter education campaign. The position will be located in Montgomery with a salary in the mid 30's. For more information about this exciting new position visit ALALEAV"s website at: http://www.alaleavs.org. Applicants can submit a cover letter and resume to: ALALEAV's P.O. Box 1987 Montgomery, Al. 36102-1987. 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 We also encourage readers to visit our website at : http://www.BamaNews.com |
