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1. Brownfield Legislation Passes, AEMC Bill One Step Closer - The Alabama Legislature passed last week new Brownfield redevelopment legislation and moved one step closer toward amending Alabama Environmental Management Commission qualifications.

The new Brownfield legislation, will provide tax incentives to industries who are tackling the difficult task of cleaning up and redeveloping abandoned industrial sites. Over the past few years, the Alabama legislature, business community, environmental community and ADEM have been united in  support of the creation of a statewide brownfield program and subsequent enhancements to the program. Special recognition goes to business lobbyist David Roberson who has pulled together this powerful and effective coalition. The Brownfield bill (HB 116) now goes to the Governor's office for his signature.

This week, the Alabama House also passed legislation (HB 542) amending Environmental Management Commission qualifications to include a certified geologist in the well driller position. The legislation also shortens the maximum number of terms a Commissioner can hold the position from 3 terms (18 years) to 2 terms (12 years). The bill, which is supported by the Environmental Management Commission now moves on to the Senate.

2. Interior Secretary Norton Visits Alabama - U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton visited Mobile County last week to tout  "cooperative conservation."

Joined by Governor Bob Riley, Norton's tour included a boat trip around Big Creek Lake, Mobile's drinking water reservoir and the adjacent gopher tortoise conservation bank, a refuge for the threatened turtle that was established jointly by the Mobile Area Water and Sewer Service, Fish and Wildlife and the Environmental Defense Fund.  Later in the day, Norton was allowed to hold one of the tortoises before it was released into the wild. 

3. Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center Funded by US House - Last week, $2 million in funding for a new natural resource education center was secured through passage of the transportation bill in the U.S. house. The U.S. Senate has yet to approve this measure.

The Jacksonville State University facility is expected to serve as a public information center for travelers on I-20 and host the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal and state natural resource agencies.  To be located on the Skyline Drive in Cleburne County, near I-20, the center will promote Mt. Cheaha, the Talladega national Forest, Pinhoti Trail, the Mountain Longleaf NWR, and other attractions in northeast Alabama. Funding for this innovative cooperative project is being secured through the support of Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and Congressman Mike Rogers. For more information call Pete Conroy at 256-782-8010 or view http://epic.jsu.edu

4. Alabama Featured in Nature Conservancy National Publication - How important is Alabama ecologically on the national level?

In a recent edition of the Nature Conservancy's national magazine, the state of Alabama was not just featured once or twice - but three times.  In the Spring 2004 edition there is a beautiful 2 page photograph of the Cahaba lilies (pg.10-11) by Beth Maynor Young, a story about the recent purchase of the Walls of Jericho in Northeast Alabama (pg. 50) and a story recognizing Senator Richard Shelby's efforts to secure funding to purchase inholdings within the Talladega National Forest (pg.59).

To learn more about the Nature Conservancy's efforts in Alabama, call them at 205-251-1155.

5. BEN Notes: Legacy Seeking Marketing Manager,  Legacy Teacher Workshop Applications, EnviroLink Magazine, Birmingham Audubon's Bird-a-thon, Saving Our Estuaries TV Program

Legacy Seeking Marketing Manager - Legacy has an opening in its Montgomery office for a Marketing Manager.  This position is responsible for developing and implementing environmental public awareness programs, serving as staff liaison to a volunteer committee, researching program areas and marketing Legacy programs to the public, soliciting in-kind and financial support and publication design.  Requirements include a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations/Marketing or five years experience in a related field; strong interpersonal and communications skills; research skills, organizational skills, graphic design and web site management skills.  Candidates should forward resume and salary requirements, to arrive no later than May 14 to Legacy, Inc., P.O. Box 3813, Montgomery, Alabama 36109. No phone calls please.

Legacy Teacher Workshop Applications - The deadline to apply for Legacy's Summer Teacher Institute is April 30th.  This year's Institute will be held at the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham Southern College from July 18-23.  To receive an application contact the Legacy office at 800-240-5115 or go to their website at http://www.legacyenved.org

EnviroLink Magazine - There is a great magazine out of Chattanooga Tennessee called EnviroLink Southeast Handbook.  A wonderful resource, the magazine can be purchased for $12.00 at EnviroLink 6131 Airways Blvd., Chattanooga, Tn. 37421. 

Birmingham Audubon's Bird-a-thon - The Birmingham Audubon Society will be dedicating all proceeds to this year's Birmingham Audubon Birdathon to support the efforts of the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS), Inc. to conserve the island's precious habitat.  DIBS is raising monies to purchase and protect upland habitats and all the wet lots on the island. As you well know Dauphin Island has some of the most important migratory bird habitat in the nation.

To support this effort, make a tax deductible contribution by May 1st to the Birmingham Audubon Society, c/o Stella Carr, 4934 Holley Lane, Gardendale, Alabama, 35071.  If you would like to participate in the Birdathon and join a "Count Party" on May 1st - call Elberta Reid at 205-879-1935 or Greg Harber at 205-251-2133.

Saving Our Estuaries TV Program - The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program will be featured in a PBS program titled "Voices of Vision: Water Ring of Life: Saving Our Estuaries" April 22nd at 8:00 PM.  The showing will be followed by Discovering Alabama's special on the Tensaw Delta.  To celebrate the program, the local Community Advisory Committee  (CAC) in Mobile will be meeting and viewing the program at Wintzell's on Dauphin Street between 7:00-9:00 PM. 

6. Earth Day/Week Events - The following is a schedule of Earth Day events occurring this week.

April 18 - Bay Area Earth Day - Fairhope, Alabama - the Fairhope Pier - From 12:00 until 4:00.

April 18 - Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham, Alabama - the Birmingham Botanical Gardens - From 1:00 until 4:00, music, activities, entertainment, and door prizes.

April 21 - Earth Day Speaker at Samford University - M. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner of Conservation, at the planetarium, 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

April 22 - Auntie Litter's 13th Annual Earth Day Parade "Team Up to Clean Up," Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama, Contact Jacy Miles 205-879-3009.  http://www.auntielitter.org

April 22 - Samford University - Chapel Service at Reid Chapel, Earth Day Speaker Peter Illyn, Director of Restoring Eden  ( http://www.restoringeden.org ). 10:00 to 11:00.

April 22 - Samford University - Exhibits from 8:00 to 3:00 on the Quad, Movie in the Planetarium (1:20), Concert on the Quad by the Wind Ensemble (4:00 PM), Speaker in the Planetarium (7-8 PM). Contact Betsy Dobbins, 205-726-2937.

April 22 - Jacksonville State University - Students for a Greener Campus Earth Day Celebration, City of Jacksonville town square, 12:30 to 4:30 PM, contact Misty Dewberry at 256-490-2387. Go to http://digest.jsu.edu

April 23-24 - Auburn University's Environmental Awareness Organization "Welcome to Planet Earth Fest" - 6184 Highway 431, Waverly, Alabama - Go to http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/eao/

April 24 - University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa - Earth Fest - Noon until ? Exhibits, music and fun, Contact Jolee Passerini at 205-348-8416.