1) Ads Attack Cahaba River Society: B'ham News Calls On Authors To Come Forward
2) ADEM's Budget Reduced Again
3) Brownfield Bill Survives Session
4) ADEM and Health Department Launch Beach Monitoring Program
5) BEN Notes: TVA Releases Outdoor Resource Book, Ruffner Mountain Announces Innovative Grant, Discovering Alabama Announces Summer Schedule, Mott Foundation Seeking Southeast Program Officer, Birmingham Zoo Blues and Barbecue

1. Ads Attack Cahaba River Society: B'ham News Calls On Authors To Come Forward - Two weeks ago, an organization called the "Outcast Voters League" placed a series of negative full page attack ads in the Birmingham News and
the Birmingham Post-Herald against the Cahaba River Society (CRS). The group's leader, Frank Matthews of Birmingham stated, that his group did not pay for the ads but "endorsed" the ads, and that he hopes to use his opposition to the Cahaba River Society as an issue to launch his campaign for a seat on the Birmingham City Council. "I needed an issue," Matthews stated in a Birmingham News June 2nd article.

Each ad has shown a large photo of a canoe bearing three prosperous looking men in business attire, with cash hanging out of one's pocket. The June 1st ad listed a number of development projects the CRS has opposed over the years. The published rate for a full page ad running in both papers could cost as much as $10,000 a day.

In response to the ad campaign, the CRS has issued an open letter to CRS members and the general public, which can be accessed on their website at http://www.cahabariversociety.org. The group cites that their recent opposition to the Jefferson County sewer tunnel has "hit a nerve." The Cahaba River Society opposes the tunnel sewer because it will bring thousands of acres of new development to the sensitive lands of the region's drinking water source.

Also, in response to Frank Matthews' revelation that his group did not pay for the ad, the Birmingham News in a June 6th editorial has called on the authors of the ad to come forward. The opinion piece can be accessed at: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham//Jun2001/6-e421532b.html

2. ADEM's Budget Reduced Again - The Alabama Department of Environmental Management's (ADEM) general fund appropriation did not escape the budget ax during the 2001 Regular Session.

According to a memo sent to members of the Alabama Commission on Environmental Initiatives from James Warr, the Director of ADEM, the agency's already paltry general fund appropriation (regular operations) was reduced 8.1% from $4,730,486 to $4,344,117, a cut of $376,369. This continues a decade long downward trend when ADEM's general fund appropriation hovered
around $6 million in 1990.

Early on in the budget process, ADEM identified and sought a $17.4 million increase to their budget which would have supported efforts such as additional field activities in the Decatur office, hazardous waste program efforts, a new central laboratory facility, full match of federal funds available under drinking and clean water state revolving loan funds and monies to implement new CAFO and TMDL efforts.

3. Brownfield Bill Survives Session - One of the few environmental bills that made it to Governor Don Siegelman's desk this session was Brownfield legislation (SB-5) sponsored by State Senators Rodger Smitherman and Jimmy Holley and Representative Terry Spicer.

The bill which was signed by Governor Siegelman, was endorsed by the Business Council of Alabama, the Governor's Commission on Environmental Initiatives, and AlaLeavs. The new law will encourage the cleanup and revitalization of old industrial sites. ADEM will be the organization implementing the program.

Despite many legislative disappointments this session (mainly the inability to pass needed legislation), Alabama's new Brownfield law is a major accomplishment and a significant victory. To learn more about Brownfields visit the EPA website at:
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/brownfpgs/bf.htm

4. ADEM and Health Department Launch Beach Monitoring Program - Before you visit Alabama's beaches this summer, make sure they are safe by visiting a new website that provides information on the region's water quality.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Alabama Department of Public Health have added beach monitoring information to ADEM's website. Currently, the state monitors water quality at 11 public beach locations in coastal Alabama for fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria. All sites are currently meeting EPA's "Criteria for Bathing and Recreational Waters" and the state's water quality criteria.

To check out this new site, visit the ADEM webpage at http://www.adem.state.al.us and click on the "coastal beach monitoring"
button.

5. BEN Notes: TVA Releases Outdoor Resource Book, Ruffner Mountain Announces Innovative Grant, Discovering Alabama Announces Summer Schedule, Mott Foundation Seeking Southeast Program Officer, Birmingham Zoo Blues and Barbecue

TVA Releases Outdoor Resource Book - If you live in the Tennessee Valley or would like to visit, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has recently published "Tennessee River Country" an outdoor guide highlighting the region's nature and recreational areas. The 101 page book cost $10 and can be ordered from TVA company stores at 423-751-7904 or purchased at local North Alabama bookstores.

Ruffner Mountain Announces Innovative Grant - Ruffner Mountain is proud to announce that it has been awarded an $8,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to support an innovative forestry research and planning project. The Urban and Community Forestry Project is the first of its kind in the U.S., according to Cory Thomas, Executive Director of the Ruffner Mountain. "We believe this is the first effort to use the top-level Forest Health Monitoring protocol in an urban forest," Thomas said.

The program is a joint project that includes Ruffner Mountain, the US Forest Service, Alabama Forestry Commission and Auburn University. For more information about the project contact Lisa Harris at 205-833-8264.

Discovering Alabama Announces Summer Schedule - Discovering Alabama is premiering 4 new shows this month on Alabama Public Television. The first show which appeared on June 3rd featured Dugger Mountain, Alabama's newest federally designated wilderness area. The second show which appeared on June 10th, highlighted the Alabama's Forever Wild Program. The remaining two program will examine "Earth Day" in Alabama (show is scheduled for June 17) and "Tuscaloosa County" (June 24) a look at the growth and impact the Mercedes plant has had on the environment.

Please visit the Discovering Alabama website at - http://www.discoveringalabama.com/index.asp for exact viewing schedules. Videotapes of past shows can also be purchased.

Mott Foundation Seeking Southeast Program Officer - The C.S. Mott Foundation has an immediate opening for a program officer to work on grantmaking addressing conservation of freshwater ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin and portions of the Southeastern U.S. Primary responsibilities include developing grantmaking strategies consistent with objectives approved by the Foundation's Trustees, investigating funding requests, monitoring and evaluating grants, and preparing materials for Foundation management. Additional information about Mott's freshwater ecosystems grantmaking can be found on the Foundation's website at http://www.mott.org. Contact FWaterPO@mott.org to request a detailed job announcement. Applications are due by July 9, 2001.

Birmingham Zoo Blues and Barbecue - The Birmingham Zoo will be holding their annual ZooBlues and Barbecue fundraiser on June 16th, 6:00 until 10:00 pm at the Zoo. There will music and great food. Admission is $10 for adults and children under 12 are free. Call 205-879-0458 for more info.

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 To receive back issues of BEN, please go to our website at: http://www.BamaNews.com