1) Toxic Plume Could Endanger Montgomery Riverfront Development
2) Scenic Byways "Alabama the Beautiful" Legislation Introduced
3) More "Green" Bills In Alabama
4) Celebrate Wilderness In Anniston March 31 -April 1
5) Get the Lead Out of Alabama! A Public Conference
6) Job Openings at Camp McDowell

1. Toxic Plume Could Endanger Montgomery Riverfront Development - A large toxic plume found in downtown Montgomery may endanger a $130 million riverfront development plan, according to developer Herbert Scheuer in a
February 12th Montgomery Advertiser article. The groundwater contamination, which was discovered in 1993, poses no threat to drinking water, but may "dim" hopes for a new riverfront plan if the contamination has spread to the point of being impossible to clean up.

This month, EPA will be testing the Montgomery downtown area near Monroe Street, to see if the toxic plume has grown, and is moving toward the Alabama River. According to Buddy Morgan, general manager of the Montgomery Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board, the groundwater was contaminated with tetrachloroethylene, benzene, toulene, ethylbenzene and xylene - substances derived from dry cleaning fluids, cleaning solvents and printing ink.

2. Scenic Byways "Alabama the Beautiful" Legislation Introduced - Armed with nearly 30 Alabama Senate cosponsors, State Senator Wendell Mitchell introduced SB 438, a bill that would create, a statewide Scenic Byways Program. The bill has been appropriately called "Alabama the Beautiful."

If passed, SB 438 would establish a two-tiered program consisting of a volunteer Advisory Council of Alabama citizens and organizations, and an official Designation Committee of state agency heads. The Advisory Council will set standards and criteria, choose roadways that have been nominated by Alabama citizens and grassroots organizations, and pass these recommendations on to the Designating Committee. The Designating Committee will then designate the recommended roadways. A broad coalition, consisting of state agencies (Al. Dept. of Transportation & Bureau of Tourism and Travel), planning organizations (ADECA & Al. Assoc. of Regional Councils) and environmental groups (Scenic Alabama, ALALEAVS, Mobile Bay Watch) have created a broad base of support for this legislation. For more information about the "Alabama the Beautiful" bill, please contact Joe Watts, Executive Director of Scenic Alabama at: 205-322-2120 or email - Scenical@aol.com

3) More "Green" Bills In Alabama - Several environmental bills were introduced in the Alabama Legislature last week. Remember, you can access and read the entire bill by visiting the Alabama Legislature website at: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/searchableInstruments/2000RS/Bills and clicking on the bill number. Go to http://www.BamaNews.com and read last week's BEN to access the bills introduced earlier in the session. Here are the latest bills.

SB 400 - To regulate vessel or residential boat sewage discharges and marine sanitation devices.
SB 410 - To implement provisions of Amendment 617 of the Constitution of Alabama authorizing the state to sell $110 million in bonds for State Park renovations. (A different bill than SB 360)
SB 419 - To provide an Appropriation for the Water Resources Commission at ADECA.
SB 435 - To establish the Alabama Dry-cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Act.
SB 437 - To prohibit all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) within any river or stream in the state.
SB 438 - To provide for a state Scenic Byways Program
SB 439 - To prohibit the Department of Conservation from selling, trading or rearranging any lands within the boundaries of Monte Sano State Park in Madison County

4. Celebrate Wilderness In Anniston March 31 - April 1 - The Alabama Environmental Council will be holding their Annual Meeting this year in style, celebrating the Dugger Mountain Wilderness victory. This year's meeting will be held in Anniston, Alabama at the Historic Caldwell Building, March 31st 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

After the Friday night celebration, join Senator Jeff Sessions, Rep. Bob Riley and wilderness supporters throughout Alabama on Saturday at the official Dugger Mountain Wilderness dedication. The dedication will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wade's Farm in Piedmont, Alabama. For details, contact the Jacksonville State University Environmental Policy and Information Center at: 256-782-5681. For information about the AEC's Annual Meeting contact the state office at: 205-322-3126.

5. Get the Lead Out of Alabama! A Public Conference - On March 31st, the Citizens for Lead Education and Poisoning Prevention (CLEPP) will be holding a policy makers workshop on lead awareness, abatement and poisoning prevention at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. If you care about children's issues and joining the fight against America's number one environmental health hazard facing children - this conference is for you. For more information and details contact CLEPP at: 205-254-8006.

6) Job Openings at Camp McDowell - This week I received two job announcements from my good friends at Camp McDowell. Here are their job descriptions.

Instructor Positions Available at Camp McDowell Environmental Center - Camp McDowell is seeking instructors (10) to teach appreciation, understanding and responsibility for the environment. The instructors will teach from an experiential curriculum, i.e. forest ecology, pond & stream, earth science, water quality, insects, Native American history and low and high ropes. The positions run from late August to late November.

Also - Along with the Instructor positions, Camp McDowell is seeking a full time Home Room Habitat Director. Another one of Camp McDowell's creative environmental education programs, this program brings the "outdoors" to local Alabama classrooms.

To learn more about these exciting positions, contact Jennifer Arnold at 205-387-1806 or visit their website at http://www.campmcdowell.com To apply: mail resumes and references to Jennifer Arnold, Director, 105 Delong Road; Nauvoo, AL 35578.

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