1) Alabama Environmental Issues Featured in Two National Magazines
2) State and Local Agencies Are Getting Serious About Environmental Protection
3) Cleburne County Dedicates a Canoe Trail
4) Wolf Bay Watershed Watch Launches New Website
5) Weeks Bay Millennium Photography Contest Opens This Month
6) Alabama River Alliance Seeking Development Director
7) Birmingham News Hires New Environmental Reporter
8) Forever Wild Board Meeting Set For June 22

1. Alabama Environmental Issues Featured in Two National Magazines - Two national magazines, Mother Jones and US News and World Report, are running featured environmental stories this month on Alabama.

In the May/June edition of Mother Jones, renown nature writer Ted Williams has authored "False Forests" an in-depth look at the conversion of Alabama's hardwood forests into pine plantations. According to the article; "Timber companies are fast replacing Southern hardwood forests with vast plantations of pine trees that are carefully tended as cornfields and are ecologically sterile." The May/June Mother Jones can be found at local newsstands and on the web at: http://www.motherjones.com.

In this week's June 19th edition of the US News and World Report cover story 'Kids at Risk - New Evidence Points to a Link Between Environmental Poisons and Learning Disabilities," the pollution problems from Montsano's (now Solutia) chemical plant in Anniston, Alabama and its impact on a local family is profiled. The story examines recent research and evidence that link chemicals such as PCBs to lack of coordination, diminished IQs, and poor memory among children. The June 19th edition of US News and World Report can be found at local stores and on the web at: http://www.usnews.com.

2. State and Local Agencies Are Getting Serious About Environmental Protection - Here some good environmental news about local governments.

Over the past month the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) have been training public and municipal officials about non-point source (pollution) education. Currently, non-point source pollution is Alabama's number one source for water pollution. Called NEMO (the Non-Point Source Education for Public and Municipal Officials), this program equips local officials with information on land use planning, site development and a toolbox filled with resources to answer the needs of many communities in Alabama. This is an effective program that reaches Alabama's decisionmakers. The next NEMO meeting will be held on June 21-22 at the Gadsden Senior Activity Center. For more information contact Earnestine Evans at 205-251-8139 or Patti Hurley at 334-394-4350.

On another local government front, Jefferson County and its Department of Environmental Protection has been selected by the EPA as one of only a handful of communities (14) in the nation to receive special technical help in measuring internal procedures with an environmental yardstick. The EPA program will offer training, coaching and technical assistance to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS) in Jefferson County. An EMS is a set of procedures that allows an organization to assess the environmental impact of its activities and to operate both with greater efficiency and control. Simply put, it will help Jefferson County do a better job protecting the environment and put in place state of the art environmental systems and standards. For more information about the Jefferson County EMS program contact Bill Peters or Mike Higginbotham at 325-8712.

3. Cleburne County Dedicates a Canoe Trail - Want to explore rural Alabama's environment? Try out the new Loyd Owens Canoe Trail in Cleburne County. Approximately 40 miles long, the trail is located on the little Tallapoosa River. It begins at the ramp entrance off county road 49, near the Friendship Church, located between Muscadine and Plainview and ends at the ramp entrance at US 431 South near Hollis Crossroads. Five ramps have been constructed along the trail for those who only want to float a portion of the trail. For more information about this wonderful canoe trail contact Joan McKinney, Emerald Triangle Commission at 256-253-2565.

4. Wolf Bay Watershed Watch Launches New Website - South Baldwin County is one of the fastest growing regions in the state of Alabama. Learn more about the region and how you can protect and preserve its natural environment by visiting the new Wolf Bay Watershed Watch website at: http://www.wolfbay.org.

5. Weeks Bay Millennium Photography Contest Opens This Month - The Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation and the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Reserve are looking for a few good photographers.

According to the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation newsletter "The Pelican Post" the groups have launched the Millennium Photography Contest. Photos must have been taken at the Weeks Bay Reserve within the past year. If you interested in participating, the categories include photos of flora, fauna and habitats. Prizes and awards will be given to photographers of all ages, so don't forget the July 15th deadline. For additional details about the contest call - 334-928-9792 or visit the Weeks Bay website at: http://www.weeksbay.org.

6. Alabama River Alliance Seeking Development Director - The following is another new job opening in the environmental community. Please contact BEN at pkbyington@aol.com to advertise additional openings.

The Alabama Rivers Alliance is seeking a new Development Director. The Director will work with Executive Director, Board and staff to develop and implement and Alabama Rivers Alliance fundraising plan. The Development Director will raise money through membership development, major donor work, special events and grantwriting. The Director will also help support Alabama Watershed groups by conducting training workshops and providing advice, support, assistance and consulting.

To apply, please send resume, cover letter and three references by mail or e-mail to: Alabama Rivers Alliance, Development Director Search, 2027 2nd Ave. North, Suite A, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 or Bmclane@alabamarivers.org To learn more about the position, visit the Alliance's website at: http://www.alabamarivers.org.

7. Birmingham News Hires New Environmental Reporter - The Birmingham News has recently hired Katherine Bouma to be their full time environmental writer. Bouma, who worked in the early 90's for the Montgomery Advertiser, was the recipient of the Southern Environmental Law Center's prestigious Philip D. Reed Award for excellence in environmental reporting in 1995.

If you are interested in contacting Katherine Bouma about potential environmental stories, she can be reached at: 205-325-3449.

8. Forever Wild Board Meeting Set For June 22 - The Forever Wild Board of Trustees will be holding their next quarterly meeting, June 22nd at 10:00 in the State Capitol Auditorium - Montgomery, Alabama. If you have any questions about the meeting or Forever Wild, please contact the State Lands Division at 334-242-3484.

*You may also contact me (I serve on the board) at pkbyington@aol.com or 205-226-7739.