May 3, 2002 #177 1) Gov. Siegelman Announces Causeway/Bay Plan 2) Ozone Season Opens: Group Releases Survey Results 3) Rep. Cramer Expresses Outrage Over Dump Site 4) National LCV Endorses Turnham For House Race 5) Founding Nature Conservancy Director Leaving 6) BEN Notes: Nature Conservancy Director Job Announcement, NWF's Campus Ecology Fellowship Program, New Website: Warrior Clean Water Initiative, Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile BayKeeper 5th Annual Bay Bash, Moonlight Music at Ruffner Mountain, World Championship Wild Game Cooking Competition, Nonpoint Source Pollution and Watershed Workshop Scheduled 7) Websites Featured In BEN #177 ********************************************************* 1. Gov. Siegelman Announces Causeway/Bay Plan - According to the Mobile Register, last week, as federal, state and local officials signed off on a broad management plan for Mobile Bay, Gov. Don Siegelman announced a $5.9 million plan for restoration projects along the Causeway, the low flying cross-Bay road that restricts water flow. If all goes according to the plan, Alabama's conservation and highway departments will be working with the U. S, Corps of Engineers to elevate and open short sections of the Causeway by 2005, partially restoring the ebb and flow of the Delta by removing the "man-made dam" that the Causeway has become. Siegelman announced the Causeway plan at the signing of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program's (NEP) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. After more than six years of negotiations, between business, industry, governmental and environmental groups, the adopted federally sponsored plan has been described by EPA head Christine Todd Whitman as the "environmental blueprint" for environmental actions and policies needed to protect Mobile Bay. Mobile Bay NEP director David Yeager, along with countless local citizen's created what Gov. Siegelman described as a "road map" and "vehicle" for the future of Mobile Bay. For more information on the Mobile Bay NEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan visit the NEP's website at http://www.mobilebaynep.com 2. Ozone Season Opens: Group Releases Survey Results - May 1st was the opening day of Alabama's ground-level Ozone Season. For the next 5 months, Alabamians will be encouraged and asked to "do our share for clean air." - But is the message getting through? According to a survey of Birmingham area residents conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham regarding ground-level ozone, people are more aware of ground-level ozone forecasts. For example, 73% of the respondents in mid-ozone season 2001 were aware of "ozone forecasts" compared to 55% in 2000. In 2001, 90% of the respondents could identify the color-coded air quality indicators. This was an increase from 77% in 2000. Despite these gains, residents surveyed did not always respond daily to the voluntary actions people can take to reduce ozone. For example, almost 90% of the respondents did not carpool to work, only 2% reported using mass transit, at home the average summer thermostat was set on 75 degrees (78 is recommended during ozone season), and respondents continued to use drive through windows despite ozone alert days. This year, Alabama Partners for Clean Air (APCA), a coalition of business, governmental, health and environmental organizations is concentrating on turning awareness into action. To learn more about what you can do voluntarily during ozone season visit APCA's website at http://www.alabamacleanair.com 3. Rep. Cramer Expresses Outrage Over Dump Site - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer visited a dumpsite in rural Limestone County to demand an explanation why the Environmental Protection Agency waited 12 years to clean up the site. Standing behind mounds of contaminated soil covered in plastic and an estimated 600 drums, Rep. Cramer blasted the EPA for failing to warn the residents and clean up the site. Cramer criticized EPA for not acting to clean up the site nearly 12 years ago when the Alabama Department of Environmental Management told EPA that there were possibly 200 drums buried at the site. ADEM discovered that Monsanto Textiles hired AAA Septic Tank Co. to bury the drums 25 years ago. 4. National LCV Endorses Turnham For House Race - This week, the League of Conservation Voters, the political voice of the national environmental and conservation community, endorsed Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters founder Joe Turnham for his race to fill the open seat in Alabama's 3rd congressional district. According to the LCV press release, Turnham's environmental priorities include cleaning up pollution in Anniston and the Coosa River Basin, preserving Lee County's water quality from nearby quarry operations and defending Alabama's water rights. Representing Alaleavs, Turnham has also served on the Governor's Commission on Environmental Initiatives and the legislature's Scrap Tire Study Commission, a group dedicated to cleaning up Alabama's tire dumps. Turnham is LCV's fourth announced endorsement of the 2002 election cycle. For more information about the League of Conservation Voters, visit their website at http://www.lcv.org For additional information about Joe Turnham's Congressional campaign visit http://www.joeturnham.com 5. Founding Nature Conservancy Director Leaving - In 1989, Kathy Freeland opened the Nature Conservancy's Alabama field office. She was the only staff person. Thirteen years later, as director of the Nature Conservancy of Alabama, the organization has a $1.5 million operating budget, recently completed a $5 million capital campaign for land protection and management and has a staff of 22 employees working from 4 locations in the state - Birmingham, Montgomery, Gurley and Mobile. Under Kathy's leadership, the Nature Conservancy played a leading role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) bought the Bibb County Glades, one of the most important biological discoveries (8 newly discovered species in one location) in Alabama history. TNC is working to purchase the land for the new Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge and has helped expand the ecologically sensitive Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. This is just a small sampling of the accomplishments - the environmental victories - that have occurred under Kathy Freeland's "watch" at The Nature Conservancy of Alabama. Later this month, Kathy Freeland will be stepping down from her leadership role at the Nature Conservancy of Alabama. After 25 years of environmental service (Kathy served for 12 years as Executive Director of the Ruffner Mountain Nature Center (1977-89)), she will be taking a well deserved sabbatical with her family. A true environmental hero who has touched many lives, Kathy will determine her career plans after a summer filled with travel to the places she has tirelessly preserved and defended - our National Parks and wild places. 6. BEN Notes: Nature Conservancy Director Job Announcement, NWF's Campus Ecology Fellowship Program, New Website: Warrior Clean Water Initiative, Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile BayKeeper 5th Annual Bay Bash, Moonlight Music at Ruffner Mountain, Smith Lake Watershed Spring Cleanup, World Championship Wild Game Cooking Competition, Nonpoint Source Pollution and Watershed Workshop Scheduled Nature Conservancy Director Job Announcement - The Nature Conservancy of Alabama is seeking to fill its State Director position. Overseeing TNC's Alabama operations, the State Director will work closely with staff, chapter trustees, supporters, and partners to implement conservation plans and programs, forge new partnerships and secure private and public funds to accomplish ambitious goals. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership, managerial and team-building skills, conservation/business acumen, and political savvy. Collaborating with non-profit boards is required. Send cover letter and resume: The Nature Conservancy, Dept. CH, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, Va. 22203 or careers@tnc.org (indicate job title in subject line) Visit http://nature.org/careers for additional details. NWF's Campus Ecology Fellowship Program - Interested in transforming your college campus into a learning and teaching model of environmental sustainability? National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Fellowship Program offers the perfect opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to harness their vision of a green campus, by working collaboratively with staff, faculty and administrators. Access grant and fellowship guidelines and application information by visiting the NWF campus ecology websites at http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/fellowships.cfm or http://www.nwf.org/jobopps/index.cfm New Website: Warrior Clean Water Initiative - Please check out the debut of the website for the Warrior River Basin Clean Water Partnership. It's a great looking site. http://www.warriorcwp.org Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile BayKeeper 5th Annual Bay Bash - Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile BayKeeper will be holding their 5th Annual Bay Bash Fundraiser on the Battleship Grounds in Mobile from 2:00 to 6:00 on Sunday, May 5th. This year's special guest speaker will be Jan Schlichtmann, the attorney portrayed by John Travolta in the movie "A Civil Action." Mr. Schlichtmann worked successfully for 11 years to prove that two companies were responsible for dumping a cancer causing industrial solvent into a community's drinking water supply. For more information about Bay Bash, contact Mobile Bay Watch at 251-476-0328. Moonlight Music at Ruffner Mountain - Ruffner Mountain Nature Center in Birmingham will be holding their "Moonlight Music Under the Stars" event May 11th at 6:00 p.m. Experience acoustic bluegrass music and a wondrous outdoor setting. There will be a moderate hike. Must be 21 to attend, and the $15 prepaid reservations are due May 9th. If you are interested in attending call 205-822-8264 or email programs@ruffnermountain.org Smith Lake Watershed Spring Cleanup - The Smith Lake Watershed Spring Cleanup has been scheduled for Monday, May 13th through Saturday, May 18th. Volunteers are especially needed to work on Alabama Power boats May 16th through the 18th. To learn how and when to volunteer contact Deb Berry at 205-823-0015. World Championship Wild Game Cooking Competition - This sounds like a fun activity. The nation's top wild game chefs and cooking teams will descend on Springville, Alabama May 25-26 to compete for more than $10,000 in cash in the first annual World championship Wild Game Cooking Competition and Outdoors Festival. Along with the great food, there will be a bluegrass concert, crafts and a fireworks show. For more information call 1-866-376-COOK or visit the website at http://www.wildgamecookingfestival.com Nonpoint Source Pollution and Watershed Workshop Scheduled - Learn how to address Alabama's biggest water pollution problem - Nonpoint Source Pollution - at the Nonpoint Source Pollution and Watersheds Workshop to be held at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Fairhope, Alabama, June 25th through the 27th. For details about the conference, contact Michael Shelton at 251-928-9792. 7. Websites Featured In BEN #177 Mobile Bay National Estuary Program http://www.mobilebaynep.com Alabama Partners for Clean Air http://www.alabamacleanair.com League of Conservation Voters http://www.lcv.org Joe Turnham Congressional Campaign http://www.joeturnham.com Nature Conservancy Job Opening http://nature.org/careers National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Program http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/fellowships.cfm or http://www.nwf.org/jobopps/index.cfm Warrior River Basin Clean Water Partnership http://www.warriorcwp.org Wild Game Cook-Off Festival http://www.wildgamecookingfestival.com *****************************************************************