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1) Governor Siegelman Creates Environmental Task
Force By Executive Order ******************************************************************* 1. Governor Siegelman Creates Environmental Task Force By Executive Order -Yesterday (April 26), Governor Don Siegelman signed Executive Order #26 creating the Alabama Commission on Environmental Initiatives. The Commission will be responsible for the research and development of quality options and alternatives that prove conducive to the long term preservation of Alabama's natural environment. Longtime environmental advocate Pete Conroy, director of the Jacksonville State University Environmental Policy and Information Center, has been named chair of the Commission. Seven state agency directors (ADEM, Public Health, DCNR, Forestry Commission, ADO, ADECA and ALDOT) or their designees, the First Lady of the State of Alabama, a board member from the Forever Wild Board of Trustees and at least one community and/or business leader from each Congressional district will make up the membership of the Commission. The Governor may also appoint additional members at a later date. The Commission is charged in the executive order to address the following environmental areas (but not limited). Development, implementation and improvement of water Quality
and air quality standards; The Commission shall report to the Governor its recommendations on or before January 15, 2001. 2. Alabama-Georgia Water War Deadline Extended - Negotiators for Alabama and Georgia agreed Wednesday (April 26) to extend the talks on water allocation within the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basin until August 1. The groups also agreed to consider a list of three potential mediators provided by the Justice Department. Talks have been at an impasse since Georgia refused to accept a February 9th proposal by Alabama negotiators calling for an interim 10-15 year agreement. Earlier this month the Washington - based environmental group
American Rivers ranked the ACT and the Appalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
(ACF) rivers basins the 5th most threatened rivers in the nation.
Joined by Madison Mayor Chuck Yancura and the city council, the Madison Campaign aims to add 400 new Land Trust members from Madison, preserve 200 acres on Rainbow Mountain and reach a financial goal of $100,000 by July 4th. This unique community driven campaign is the first of its kind by a local municipality in Alabama. Working hand in hand with a nonprofit organization the city is actively raising not only funds but memberships for a local land trust. For more information on the Madison Campaign contact the Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama at 256-534-5263. 4. Nature Conservancy Buys Cahaba River Land in Perry County - The Nature Conservancy of Alabama has successfully purchased approximately 125 acres of property off the Cahaba River in Perry County. The property, which is affectionately called "Barton's Beach" is the largest sandbar on the Cahaba and is one of the most spectacular "bends" on the river. The Cahaba River has been identified by the Conservancy as a top priority site within the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain Ecoregion. The acquisition was made possible through a partnership between the Nature Conservancy, Probate Judge Donald Cook, Perry County Commission, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The Barton Beach property is adjacent to the Marion Fish Hatchery which has been leased to the County by the Department of Conservation. The County will develop that portion of land as a park. For more information about wonderful success story in Perry County, contact the Nature Conservancy at 205-251-1155. 5. Dumpers Beware in Jefferson County - Illegal dumpers in Jefferson County beware ... the County Commission is serious about cleaning up the county. Since March of 1999, Jefferson County has forced nearly 600 illegal dumpers to clean up their mess. The dumps have ranged from common household waste to construction debris and old tires. The largest dump was 10 acres in size. The county is currently talking to the district attorney about charging up to 25 people for criminal littering. To learn more about Jefferson County's program or to report a dump call 205-253-2687. 6. Emissions Testing Bill Falls One Vote Shy - Despite a House debate filled with misinformation (example: A Rep. claimed that B'ham was in attainment of air quality standards and that there are 20 air monitors - there are 6), the auto emissions testing bill loss the super majority procedural vote needed to allow the House to vote on the bill. The proponents for clean air won the procedural vote 49-34, but needed 50 votes to have the bill considered. The emissions testing measure will not be brought up for the rest of the session. For more information on the debate and the vote count, contact Pat Byington via e-mail at: pkbyington@aol.com 7. Update on the April Fire - Here is an update on the Beth Young/Alabama Rivers Alliance fire that occurred earlier this month. Beth Young's Photography - Some Great News! BEN has been informed that more than 90% of Beth Young's negatives have been recovered from the office fire that occurred earlier this month. She still lost her inventory and equipment, but most of her work (the negatives) was remarkably preserved. Alabama Rivers Alliance - As a result of the fire, The Alabama Rivers Alliance has moved its office closer to downtown. They are now located in The Bradford Building, 2027 2nd Avenue North, Suite A, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Their phone number (205-322-6395) and e-mail address remains unchanged. Special thanks, go out to Mayo Holloway. Mayo manages the property where the fire occurred. Brad McLane, the director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance told BEN that he has been very 'accommodating" and 'super" during the whole ordeal. Mayo is also the landlord for the Cahaba River Society and Alabama Environmental Council. 8. Pass the Paddle Comes to Alabama - The Rivers 2000 program, Pass the Paddle, a celebration of America's rivers and watersheds comes to Alabama April 29- May 4 to promote the incredible system of waterways in Alabama. The highlight of the paddle's trip through the state occurs at 2:00pm April 30th at Montgomery's Riverfront Park where Gov. Don Siegelman has been invited to receive and sign the paddle from boaters helping carry the paddle across Alabama into Mississippi. The public is invited to attend. For more information about Pass the Paddle events throughout Alabama contact Paul Kennedy at: 205-251-8139 ext 35 or visit their website at; http://sites.netscape.net/passthepaddleal/homepage or http://www.rivers2000.org 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 |
