Bama Environmental News

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1. Birmingham Exceeds Ozone Air Standards - According to the Birmingham News, "the Birmingham area has lost its battle to beat ozone," this summer when the Helena air monitor showed violations of the ozone health standard this past Wednesday. Failing the ozone standard means Jefferson and Shelby counties will be barred from recruiting new polluting industries until they meet the rules.

The Birmingham area had been failing to meet federal rules for ozone since 1978. Briefly, the area came into attainment of the standard this year, but was placed back into the non-attainment category when new tougher rules went into effect this summer. Despite this week's failure of the standard, according to Jefferson County Health Department meteorologist Sam Bell the air is actually getting cleaner. This year, the area has violated the new tougher ozone standard 6 times. If the standard was in place in 1999, the standard would have been violated 75 times.

2. Alabama Landfill Offers To Take Atlanta Garbage - According to an AP story, Waste Away, a Waste Management subsidiary that operates a landfill in Lee County is seeking permission to expand their landfill to accept garbage from Atlanta and 14 additional counties in Georgia.

According to Lee County Probate Judge Bill English, Waste Management told the county it needs to find a new dump site for Atlanta area trash. The Live Oak Landfill, which services about 76% of the Atlanta metro area will close in November. Currently, the Waste Away landfill is allowed to accept 1500 tons of garbage a day from 19 Alabama counties and 3 Georgia counties along the state line. The company is asking county commissioners for permission to expand the daily capacity to 2500 tons and its reach into Georgia.

3. Chemical Weapons Incinerator Marks First Year - Marking its first year in operation, managers at the Army's chemical weapons incinerator in Anniston, Alabama stated that the program has destroyed more than 34,000 rockets and nearly 343,000 pounds of sarin nerve agent.

The Army officials have praised the program's rapid pace and safety record. Some experts and critics have cautioned that the program has stumbled and faces significant questions in the year ahead. Despite all the weapons that have been destroyed, more than 4 million pounds of sarin, VX and blister agent remain in the Anniston stockpile.

To learn about both sides of this issue go to http://www.cma.army.mil/anniston.aspx or http://www.cwwg.org/.

4. Alabama Scientists Report in BioScience About Global Endangered Species - Although nearly half of the recorded extinctions of animal species during the past 500 years have been freshwater clams and snails, their decline has been largely ignored by biologists and the general public according to an article authored by University of Alabama biologists in the publication BioScience.

In the April 2004 edition a team of 16 experts reported on the diversity and plight of what has been called the most endangered group of animals - nonmarine mollusks. Dr. Charles Lydeard, associate professor in biological sciences was one of the lead authors. According to the report a staggering 42% of the 693 recorded extinctions of all animal species since 1500 are mollusks.

5. Group Calling For Federal River Funding - The Coosa-Alabama Improvement Association is rallying stakeholders along the Alabama River to support the group's ongoing battle to restore federal funding for civil works operations on the river.

The 2005 budget proposal submitted by President Bush early this year eliminated funding for dredging of the river by the Corps of Engineers. Monies were also cut to operate the Claiborne Lock. Without funding, the Corps could be forced to close down operations that would essentially halt navigation of the river from the Port of Mobile to most points north. Along with the negative impact on navigation the group contends that the loss of funds will harm wildlife habitats.

6. BEN Notes: Five Mile Creek Greenway Cleanup, Birmingham Audubon Mini-Grants, Alabama Power "Plant a Tree" Grant Program, AWF Elects First Woman President, Why Wilderness? Publication

Five Mile Creek Greenway Cleanup - For the first time ever, hundreds of volunteers from across Alabama will converge on the town of Brookside in Jefferson County to participate in a community "cleanup" of Five Mile Creek. The cleanup is a joint project of the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership and the Alabama Power Service Organization, Magic City Chapter. The cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, August 28th. To learn more about this first ever cleanup contact the Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust at 214-8613 or Alabama Power at 257-4155.

Birmingham Audubon Mini-Grants - The Birmingham Audubon Society is offering mini-grants of up to $250 this fall to support conservation education in Jefferson and Shelby counties. Monies may be used for outdoor field trips or to create outdoor classrooms, bird feeding stations and other types of outdoor habitats. The deadline for the mini-grant applications is September 10, 2004. To access the forms go to http://www.birminghamaudubon.org and click on Grants and Scholarships. For additional info contact Ann Sweeney at 205-879-7127.

Alabama Power "Plant a Tree" Grant Program - Alabama Power Foundation Tree Grants - The Alabama Power Foundation, in partnership with the Alabama Urban Forestry Association, is now accepting applications for the 2004 Urban and Community Tree Assistance Program. Over the past three years, more than $241,000 in grants have been distributed to more than 246 cities, counties, schools and community groups. The grants have been used to buy and plant thousands of trees in community parks, along roadways and on school grounds, among other sites. For more information about the grant program, or to obtain an application via mail, please call the Alabama Power Foundation at 205-257-2508 or go online at http://www.alabamapowerfoundation.com. The grant deadline is August 31st.

AWF Elects First Woman President - Last month, Rebecca Wright Pritchett of Birmingham was recently installed as President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF). With this honor also comes the distinction of being AWF's first women president since its inception in 1935. Pritchett brings to AWF extensive knowledge in environmental law and a commitment to Alabama's wildlife and natural resources. Along with her new position at AWF, she also serves on the Forever Wild Board and is an attorney with Sirote & Permutt, P.C. in Birmingham.

Why Wilderness? Publication - The Wilderness Society has published a beautiful 42 page publication about wilderness in Alabama and the Southeast. Mary Burks, one of original people who fought for the Sipsey Wilderness more than 30 years ago is profiled. To receive a free copy of the publication, just send $2.00 postage to the Wilderness Society, 112 Krog Street, Suite 26, Atlanta, Georgia 30307.