#260
March 21, 2006
1) Alabama Waters Special: Number of Aquatic Species By State
2) ADEM's 2006 Pollution Prevention Awards
3) Chemical Weapons Destroyed in Anniston Update
4) First Legislative Bike Commute
5) BEN Notes: Camp McDowell Summer Workshops, EarthFest Calendar, Cahaba River NWR Support Group, Wolf Bay Trash and Treasures Fundraiser and Plant Sale, 2nd Annual State of Our Watershed - Tallapoosa River Basin, Jefferson County Household Hazardous Waste Day, Sustainable Community Gardening, Annual Alabama Planning Association Conference, Alabama Environmental Health Association Conference
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Alabama Environmental Management Commission (EMC) Seeks Comments On Plan Revisions
On April 20, 2004, the Alabama Environmental Management Commission adopted a Strategic Plan for the Commission and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Last month, the Commission created a process to revise the 2004 plan by August of 2006. As a first step in the planning process, the Commission is seeking written comments from the public on potential revisions to the Plan.
As chair of the EMC's Strategic Planning Standing Committee, I invite you to participate. Your valuable input is welcomed. Please direct written comments to: Alabama Environmental Management Commission, Strategic Planning Standing Committee, P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463 or via email at dst@adem.state.al.us . A copy of the planning process/schedule can be found at http://www.adem.state.al.us . The deadline for written public comments is April 21st. Thank you for participating!
Best Wishes,
Pat Byington, BEN Publisher
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1. Alabama Waters Special: Number of Aquatic Species By State - Earlier this month, Dr. Randy Haddock of the Cahaba River Society gave an extraordinary presentation to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Annual Convention in Muscle Shoals about "life" in Alabama's rivers, streams and waters. Here is a stunning figure/statistic he provided the group at meeting.
>From the Alabama Department of Conservation.
Number of Aquatic Species by State
Mussels: Alabama - 175, Tennessee - 132, Georgia - 119, Mississippi - 103, United States - 299
Snails: Alabama -181, Tennessee - 82, Georgia - 66, Mississippi -67, United States - 655
Crayfish: Alabama - 83, Tennessee - 70, Georgia - 75, Mississippi - 47, United States - 338
Fish - Alabama - 297, Tennessee - 295, Georgia - 219, Mississippi - 220, United States - 1021
Total - Alabama - 736, Tennessee - 579, Georgia - 479, Mississippi - 437
For more information about the aquatic species in Alabama's waters and the program that was presented to the Episcopal Diocese, contact Dr. Haddock at 205-32-CLEAN ext. 412.
2. ADEM's 2006 Pollution Prevention Awards - The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) announced their 2006 Pollution Prevention (P2) Award winners, last month at the Environmental Management Commission meeting in Montgomery. Here is the list of the winners and a description of their P2 efforts.
3M Guin - This facility received their 2nd Achievement Award in Pollution Prevention. 3M has implemented 11 projects in the past two years preventing the production of approximately 184 tons of pollution, while achieving net operational savings of $786,000.
SCA Tissue in Cherokee, Alabama - The company reduced inert waste sent to landfills by 70 percent while achieving savings associated with disposal fees.
IPSCO Steel - IPSCO initiated a test program in 2003 to determine the feasibility of using scrap tires as an alternative energy source to fuel its electric arc furnace process of melting scrap steel.
For more information about these projects and the P2 Awards, contact ADEM at 334-271-7766.
3. Chemical Weapons Destroyed in Anniston Update - The Anniston Chemical Demilitarization Facility reached a milestone on March 2nd by destroying the last of the munitions stored at the Anniston Army Depot containing the chemical nerve agent sarin (commonly called GB).
Since August 9, 2003, the facility has destroyed more than 150,000 chemical munitions and 965,000 pounds of chemical agent. According to an ADEM press release, the department has spent more than 22,000 employee hours monitoring the facility to ensure environmental safety and that the facility is adhering to permit and regulatory requirements.
4. First Legislative Bike Commute - In an effort to encourage bicycle commuting, State Representatives Gerry Allen and Mike Ball and the Alabama Bicycle Coalition lead the first Legislative bike commute through the streets of Montgomery, last week.
The purpose of the 4 mile ride was to encourage and inform legislators about the need for safely designed roads that encourage cycling. Information about the new coalition can be found at http://www.alabike.org .
5. BEN Notes: Camp McDowell Summer Workshops, EarthFest Calendar, Cahaba River NWR Support Group, Wolf Bay Trash and Treasures Fundraiser and Plant Sale, 2nd Annual State of Our Watershed - Tallapoosa River Basin, Jefferson County Household Hazardous Waste Day, Sustainable Community Gardening, Annual Alabama Planning Association Conference, Alabama Environmental Health Association Conference
Camp McDowell Summer Workshops - The McDowell Environmental Center is offering teachers the opportunity to take two three-day workshops this summer. The workshops are free and will take place at Camp McDowell in Winston County. The first workshop, to be held June 26-28 is "Lost Worlds of Alabama Rocks: an Upclose Look at the Geology of Alabama." The second workshop called "Water, Water Everywhere," will be held on July 24-26. To apply for one of these workshops, contact Maggie Wade Johnston at maggie@campmcdowell.com or call 205-387-1806 to ask for an application.
EarthFest Calendar - Checkout the state's most extensive Earth Day (Month) calendar at http://www.AlabamaEarthfest.org . There is an activity/event occurring almost every day for the next month.
Cahaba River NWR Support Group - Interested in supporting one of Alabama's newest National Wildlife Refuges? Join the Cahaba River NWR Support Group, Tuesday, March 21, 6:00, at the Cahaba Lily Building Main Street, West Blocton, Alabama.
Wolf Bay Trash and Treasures Fundraiser and Plant Sale - The Wolf Bay Watershed Watch will be holding their annual fundraiser at the Miflin Community Center in Baldwin County on March 24 and 25. For more info about supporting this project, contact Bob Simpson at 251-943-7279 or Tom Dukes at 251-986-8448.
2nd Annual State of Our Watershed - Tallapoosa River Basin - The 2nd Annual State of Our Watershed Conference - the Tallapoosa River Basin will be held on April 20th at Camp ASCCA, Jackson Gap, Alabama. For more info visit http://www.twp.auburn.edu or contact Eric Reutebach at reuteem@auburn.edu
Jefferson County Household Hazardous Waste Day - The Jefferson County Commission, and the cities of Hoover, Birmingham and Bessemer are sponsoring the 4th Annual countywide Household Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday, April 22nd from 8:00 A.M. until noon. The events will be held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Bessemer Civic Center, Center Point Courthouse and the Alabama State Fairgrounds. For more info about this program, please call or email Jan Trucks at 205-325-8712 /trucks@jccal.org
Sustainable Community Gardening - Learn about Sustainable Community Gardening/Farming at the Jones Valley Urban Farms every Saturday morning in April from 10:00 to noon. Come to the Farm in the Birmingham at the corner of 8th Avenue North and 25th Street. For more info contact Edwin Marty, 205-439-7213 or call visit http://www.jvuf.org
Annual Alabama Planning Association Conference - The 2006 Annual Spring Conference of the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association will be held May 17-19 at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Conference Center in the Shoals. For more info visit http://www.alaapa.org
Alabama Environmental Health Association Conference - The Alabama Environmental Health Association will be holding their Annual Conference on July 19-21, 2006 at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Conference Center in the Shoals. For registration information go to http://www.AEHA-online.com
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The Bama Environmental News is edited and published by Pat Byington. To receive back copies of BEN go to http://www.BamaNews.com . If you would like to be removed from this e-mail listserve contact BEN at pkbyington@aol.com .