April 21, 2005
#245
BEN Publisher Pat Byington's April 17th Birmingham News Earth Day Op-ed
1) Community Foundation and Region 2020's Community Counts Environmental Numbers
2) Alabama Counties Taken Off EPA Soot List
3) Alabama Power Plans $2 Billion in Pollution Control Upgrades
4) Black Warrior Riverkeeper Receives Support From Seinfeld Creator
5) Land Trust of East Alabama "Greenprint for Growth"
6) BEN Notes: Watershed Forum Seeking Water Quality Specialist, AEC's Green Tie Affair, AWF's 1st Flora and Fauna Art Show, Tallapoosa River Basin : "State of Our Watershed Conference, SEC Livable Cities Conference
1. Community Foundation and Region 2020's Community Counts Environmental Numbers
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and Region 2020 released earlier this month its "2005 Community Counts - Measuring Progress on Our Region" publication. The report consists of a wide variety of indicators, facts and figures about the 12 county Central Alabama region. Here are some of the environmental statistics.
Percent of Stream Miles Noncompliant with State Standards (Streams listed on the 303(d) list)
303(d) Miles Per 100 - A sampling of the 12 counties:
12 County Region Average - 7.0
Calhoun County - 3.6
Tuscaloosa County - 4.2
Talladega County - 8.5
Cullman County - 11.1
Jefferson County - 14.6
Percent Change in Farmland Acreage
Alabama - -6.44%
Walker County - +19.01%
Cullman County - +5.33%
Tuscaloosa County - -9.23%
Etowah County - - 15.34%
Shelby County - - 18.80%
Transportation Commute Time (Minutes)
Alabama - 24.8
Tuscaloosa County - 21.2
Jefferson County - 24.3
Shelby County- 28.6
Walker County - 33.2
Blount County - 34.7
Mass Transit Daily Ridership (per 1000)
Alabama - 4.65
Jefferson County - 9.83
Talladega County - 6.44
Tuscaloosa County - 4.31
Shelby County - 1.44
St.Clair County - 0.80
To access the entire 97 page Community Counts report, go to http://www.region2020.org.
2. Alabama Counties Taken Off EPA Soot List
Earlier this month the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added 21 counties in 12 areas across nine states to the list of counties that now meet the nation's new, more protective air quality standards for fine particle pollution (PM2.5).
After reviewing the 2003-2004 air quality monitoring data provided by the states, EPA found one area in Alabama previously identified as not meeting the national air quality standards that should be designated as "in attainment." That area is Russell County.
In addition, based on updated data, EPA is also designating as in attainment four areas identified in December 2004 as "unclassifiable." These single counties in Alabama include Dekalb County and Etowah County in Gadsden.
For more information on fine particle pollution, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/.
3. Alabama Power Plans $2 Billion in Pollution Control Upgrades
Alabama Power announced last month that it will be making $2 billion in improvements in its coal-fired power plants to help lower ozone, smog, and mercury pollution in the Birmingham and Mobile areas. According to the Birmingham News some of the planned reductions include:
* Plant Gaston in Shelby County (five units) - Reduce nitrogen oxide by 80% at one of the plants units by this summer. Nitrogen oxide also will be reduced at the other four units by 25% beginning in 2007.
* Plant Gorgas in Walker County (five units) - A scrubber should be completed in 2008 to reduce sulfur dioxide on three units by 98%. In 2002, equipment was installed on one of the same units to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution by 80% during ozone season. Combined, those three changes should reduce mercury from the three units by 60 to 80 percent.
* Plant Barry in Mobile County (7 units) - Nitrogen oxide pollution should be reduced on four units by 25% beginning in 2006. A fifth unit will have a 98% reduction in sulfur dioxide by 2011. Mercury is expected to be reduced by 60 to 80 percent on one unit.
For more information about these programs, visit Alabama Power's website.
4. Black Warrior Riverkeeper Receives Support From Seinfeld Creator
What does the band Phish, Seinfeld creator Larry David, comedian Robert Klein, Robert Kennedy Jr., people in the state of Vermont have in common?
They all supported the Black Warrior Riverkeepers at a fundraiser that was held earlier this month in Burlington, Vermont. That's right - Vermont.
A film crew documented the event, which was held on April 3rd. There will be soon audio files and possibly video files of the event for downloading for a small fee on http://www.livephish.com with proceeds going to the Black Warrior Riverkeepers. To learn more about the Riverkeepers visit their website at: http://www.blackwarriorriver.org/
5. Land Trust of East Alabama "Greenprint for Growth"
East Alabama is one of Alabama's fastest growing regions. For example, according to a recent study, between 1993 to 2003, more than 13,500 acres have been developed in Lee County alone. To help the region understand past, present and future growth patterns, the Land Trust of East Alabama and the Land Trust Alliance recently produced "Greenprint for Growth in Chambers County, Russell County and Lee County, Alabama."
The report can be accessed at http://www.ltea.org.
6. BEN Notes: Watershed Forum Seeking Water Quality Specialist, AEC's Green Tie Affair, AWF's 1st Flora and Fauna Art Show, Tallapoosa River Basin : "State of Our Watershed Conference, SEC Livable Cities Conference
Watershed Forum Seeking Water Quality Specialist - The Southeast Watershed Forum is looking for a water quality specialist to assist in developing and conducting community watershed training workshops throughout the region. A background and minimum of 5 years experience in pollution source assessments, stormwater best management practices, consensus building, facilitation, strategic planning and intergovernmental water quality programs is recommended. Application deadline: June 30, 2005. Send your resume or inquiries to seforum@southeastwaterforum.org or Claudia Schenck, Southeast Watershed Forum, One Vantage Way, Suite D-105, Nashville, TN 37228.
AEC's Green Tie Affair - The Alabama Environmental Council will be holding their 9th Annual Green Tie Affair on Saturday, April 23rd - 7:00 PM at the Lindsey Office Furnishings Warehouse in Birmingham. Tickets are $35 in advance. For more information go to http://www.aeconline.ws or call 205-322-3126.
AWF's 1st Flora and Fauna Art Show - The Alabama Wildlife Federation will be holding their 1st Annual Alabama Flora and Fauna Art Show April 24-27 at the historic Lanark Estate in Millbrook, Alabama. Proceeds benefit AWF. RSVP's are requested: call 334-285-4550 to reserve a spot.
Tallapoosa River Basin : "State of Our Watershed Conference - The Tallapoosa Watershed Project TWP) will be holding a 'State of Our Watershed Conference: The Tallapoosa River Basin," on May 5-6 at Camp ASCCA in Jackson's Gap, Alabama. Space is limited. To go to http://www.twp.auburn.edu for the agenda, conference details and online registration.
SEC Livable Cities Conference - The Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham Southern College will be holding their annual Livable Cities Conference this year on May 6th, 8:00 to 1:30 PM, at Birmingham Southern. Dan Burton, a nationally recognized expert on walkable communities will be speaking at the event. Tickets are $30, which includes lunch. For more info call 205-226-4934 or register online at http://www.bsc.edu/sec/news/default.html.