July 13, 2004
#228
1) EPA: Six Alabama Counties Fail New Air Standards
2) Rep. Artur Davis Creates Environmental Justice Panel
3) Critical Habitat Designated For 11 Freshwater Mussels
4) Fossil-Rich Coal Mine Saved By State
5) 3M Foundation Donates $1.5 Million To Paint Rock
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Regional Conservation Funding Summit In Birmingham
If you care about conservation funding programs such as the Land and Water and Conservation Fund, Wildlife Grants, Preservation Grants and many other successful federal programs, please register today to attend the Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation Southeast Summit - "Americans Saving American Places - Joining Forces in the Southeast." The event will be held on July 29-30 at the Raddison Inn in Birmingham.
Speakers include executive directors and vice presidents from 5 national organizations, an Alabama Episcopal Bishop and the chair-elect to the National Wildlife Federation's Board of Directors. This is the first time in memory, so many leaders from national and regional groups have convened in the Southeast or Alabama. The summit fee is $50.
Please register today by going to the following webpage:
http://www.bamanews.com/summit.html
If you have any questions, please call Pat Byington at 205-999-4390 or email pkbyington@aol.com
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1. EPA: Six Alabama Counties Fail New Air Standards - According to the Birmingham News, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared last week that Alabama failed to meet new standards for air pollution in six counties, including Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Jackson, Lee and Russell counties. If after appeals, the EPA adopts the designations for failing new particle pollution standards, the six counties will face sanctions on businesses locating in those areas.
Ron Gore, Alabama's top air official said the state will fight the designations, requesting that only Jefferson and Russell counties be placed in "nonattainment." Those are the only two counties where air monitors fail the standard for small particles, based on a three year average. The other counties were included because they contribute to pollution problems or lie in metro areas with particle problems, according to Gore.
2. Rep. Artur Davis Creates Environmental Justice Panel - Congressman Artur Davis has convened a group of 12 people to serve on an Environmental Justice Policy Working Group that will help define goals for an October summit on sustainable development.
Members of the group include: Bill Andreen, University of Alabama Law Professor; Mabel Anderson, director of Village Creek Environmental Justice Society; Conner Bailey, Auburn University, Lynn Battle, director of CLEPP; Phillis Belcher, director of Greene County Industrial Board; Paul Blanchard Samford University; Jonathan Bonner, Sentell Engineering; Karen Boykin, assistant director National Institute for Global Environmental Change; Richard Holland, President of University of West Alabama, Kaye Kiker, Chair York Industrial Development Board; Deborah Love, environmental consultant; David Roberson, chair of Business Council of Alabama's environment and energy committee.
For additional information about this new committee got to http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/al07_davis/EJPWG.html
3. Critical Habitat Designated For 11 Freshwater Mussels - The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated portions of rivers and streams, totaling 1,093 miles in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee as critical habitat for 11 federally listed freshwater mussel species.
Critical habitat is a term used in the Endangered Species Act. It identifies geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and may require special management considerations. The designation does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve or other conservation area. It also does not allow government or public access to private lands, according to the Wildlife Service.
In Alabama, the watersheds that have been designated as critical habitat include the Tombigbee River, Black Warrior River, Alabama River, Cahaba River, Tallapoosa River and Coosa River. To obtain a copy of the final rule and economic analysis go to http://southeast.fws.gov/hotissues/index.html
4. Fossil-Rich Coal Mine Saved By State - A Walker County coal mine that is rich in fossilized footprints of ancient creatures has been given a reprieve from being plowed under federally required mine reclamation.
U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt and state geology and conservation officials gathered last week to announce plans to take ownership of the Union Chapel strip mine which will save the 33 acre site from mandated reclamation for at least 40 years.
The site has a wealth of fossilized footprints and trackways showing a series of steps of mostly millipede or salamander like creatures on shale rocks. The tracks were made in mudflats 310 million years ago when Walker County was a marshy river delta region just north of the ocean, according to paleontologists. Nick Tew, Alabama's State Geologist called the site a "true geological treasure" that has garnered international attention.
For more information about this project go to :
http://aderholt.house.gov/HoR/AL04/Newsroom/News+Releases/2003/Aderholt+Announces+Agreement+Protecting+Fossil+Site.htm
5. 3M Foundation Donates $1.5 Million To Paint Rock - The 3M Foundation has selected The Nature Conservancy's Paint Rock Project in North Alabama to receive a $1.5 million gift. Citing the region's biological significance and the area's community significance, 3M's gift will help the Nature Conservancy leverage critical land purchases in the region.
At 3M's Decatur facility, Jim Fincher, site manager, said the company recognized the global significance of the unique Southern Cumberlands habitats and the need to protect the Paint Rock River and its branches, which supports more than 100 species of fish and 45 species of mussels.
For more information about this important project contact the Nature Conservancy at 205-251-1155.