1) Governor's Environmental Task Force Public Hearings Scheduled
2) Sen. Sessions Joins 63 Senators Calling For CARA Vote
3) Sierra Club Releases Sprawl Report In Alabama
4) ADEM Announces Pollution Prevention Awards Program
5) Division of Wildlife Seeking Public Input Statewide
6) A Unique Partnership Between A National Magazine and Bama Enviro Group
7) BEN Notes: Cahaba Group Outdoor Gear Sale, Regional Matters Conference,
Trees For Alabama to Hold First Tree Summit, Utilizing Earth's 911 in Alabama
for Environmental Education, Join BAS's 36th Annual Bird Count

1. Governor's Environmental Task Force Public Hearings Scheduled - Governor Don Siegelman's Alabama Commission on Environmental Initiatives (ACEI) has scheduled 12 public hearings statewide for the next 4 weeks. The first meeting was held September 18th in Auburn, Alabama with more than 300 people in attendance. On September 19th there was a meeting in Tuscaloosa with more than 150 people attending. The following is a list of the scheduled sites and cities for the next 10 meetings.

September 21st - Mobile at the Government Plaza Building
September 25th - Florence at the University of North Alabama
September 27th - Birmingham at Birmingham Southern College
September 28th - Selma at the First Baptist Church (tentative)
October 2nd - Thomasville (location pending)
October 3rd - Evergreen (location pending)
October 5th - Dothan (location pending)
October 9th - Guntersville at the Guntersville State Park
October 10th - Huntsville (location pending)
October 12th - Anniston at the City Meeting Center

To receive additional information about pending meeting locations, contact the Jacksonville State University Environmental Policy and Information Center at 256-782-8010 or check the EPIC's website at: http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic

2. Sen. Sessions Joins 63 Senators Calling For CARA Vote - A bipartisan majority of U.S. Senators are joining forces to urge the passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) before the 106th Congress adjourns this year. CARA provides significant funding for America's natural treasures: its wildlife, parks, coasts, forests and wetlands. If passed under the Senate version of the bill, Alabama would receive more than $73 million a year for conservation.

The bipartisan group of 63 senators, which includes Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, sent a letter to the Senate leadership this week encouraging them to schedule this important legislation for consideration by the full Senate in September (the letter was also signed by Helms of NC, Thurmond of SC, Cochran of MS., Frist of TN. and Hollings of SC., Edwards of NC, and Cleland and Miller of Ga). Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle have stated CARA is a priority for this year's final agenda but due to a limited legislative calendar and many other priorities, action on CARA is not assured. An unprecedented coalition of up 10,000 organizations, businesses and elected officials, including more than 100 Alabama groups and officials, support securing permanent conservation funding through the enactment of CARA.

To learn more about CARA and what you can do to help pass it, visit the Teaming for Wildlife and Americans for Our Heritage websites at http://www.teaming.com or http://www.ahrinfo.org

3. Sierra Club Releases Sprawl Report In Alabama - Want to learn more about urban sprawl and how to combat it? The Sierra Club released last week a report on sprawl, and compared Five Points South in Birmingham, Alabama (an example of good thoughtful planning) to the sprawling developments occurring in the Cahaba River watershed just outside Birmingham.

The report called "Smart Choices or Sprawling Growth - A 50 State Survey of Development" can be found on the Sierra Club website at http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl Along with the Sierra Club site, the report recommends organizational websites to visit such as http://www.sprawlwatch.org to learn more about sprawl and how to control it.

4. ADEM Announces Pollution Prevention Awards Program - Here is an exciting new program. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is sponsoring an awards program to recognize businesses that prevent pollution
and thereby protect the environment and public health.

Pollution Prevention (P2) is the use of materials, processes or practices to reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants at the source. Common P2 practices include reducing energy and water demand, reducing the amount of hazardous materials and other resources used and the protection of natural resources through conservation or increased efficiency. Reducing sources of pollution usually results in financial gain, improvements to operating efficiency, enhanced workplace safety and of course numerous environmental benefits.

ADEM will be rewarding companies that go beyond compliance and recognize those going the extra mile for environmental protection. All businesses, industries and Department of Defense facilities with P2 programs can apply. An award ceremony will be held in the Fall of 2000. For more information about ADEM's Pollution Prevention activities and the award program, contact Gavin Adams at 334-394-4353 or mga@adem.state.al.us

5. Division of Wildlife Seeking Public Input Statewide - The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries has scheduled countywide meetings across the state to solicit input on programs that protect and manage Alabama's fish and wildlife populations. These meetings started last month and will continue until November.

If you care about biodiversity and the direction Alabama takes in protecting wildife and fisheries, this is a great "vehicle" to provide input and ideas. For meeting locations, dates and additional information visit Conservation's website at: http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/agfd/meetings.html

6. A Unique Partnership Between A National Magazine and Bama Enviro Group - A new inspirational and passionate nature magazine called Orion is teaming up with the Alabama Environmental Council (AEC) in a unique partnership. Here is the deal. When Orion Magazine receives a $30 subscription from a AEC referral, the AEC will receive $10.

The Boston Globe has called Orion "America's finest environmental magazine." Not only does the magazine inspire people to protect the environment, but through this partnership with the AEC, they will be making a significant commitment to Alabama's environment. Contact the AEC about subscribing to Orion today by calling them at 205-322-3126 or e-mailing them at StateOffice@alenvironmentalcouncil.org. Check out Orion Magazine on the web at: http://www.orionsociety.org

7. BEN Notes: Cahaba Group Outdoor Gear Sale, Regional Matters Conference,
Trees For Alabama to Hold First Tree Summit, Utilizing Earth's 911 in Alabama
for Environmental Education, Join BAS's 36th Annual Bird Count

Cahaba Group Outdoor Gear Sale - Mark your calendar: The Cahaba Group of the Sierra Club will be holding an "Outdoor Gear Sale" Saturday Sept 23rd at the Alabama Outdoors parking lot in Birmingham. This a great way to buy cheap outdoor equipment while supporting the environment! For more info call Audrey Alverson at 205-680-9263

Regional Matters Conference - Another Reminder! Join Smart Growth activists throughout Alabama at the 'Regional Matters Conference and The Making Choices Workshop" on September 28-29 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. For more
information and to register call 205-251-8139 or 205-326-1100.

Trees For Alabama to Hold First Tree Summit - Trees for Alabama, a new non-profit organization dedicated to preserve and increase the tree canopy of Alabama is holing their first Tree Summit on October 27th at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. For more information, please contact Trees for Alabama at 205-414-3905.

Utilizing Earth's 911 in Alabama for Environmental Education - People are invited to meet with representatives from Earth's 911, a national organization offering a wide array of services that will help you bring the most up to date , accurate environmental information to your community. Earth 911 has taken environmental hotlines, websites and other information
sources nationwide and consolidated them into one network. Earth's 911 can be accessed on the web at http://www.1800CLEANUP.org

The meeting with Earth's 911 will be held at Birmingham Southern College on October 11th, from 1:00 to 4:00. For more info and to RSVP contact Sheri Powell or Charlotte Nix of Project Rose at 1-800-452-5901.

Join BAS's 36th Annual Bird Count - Birmingham Audubon Society is holding its 36th Annual Fall Bird Count, Saturday September 30th. For information on how to participate call David George at 205-477-5074.

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