June 17, 1999
1) 1999 Alabama Legislative Session Ends - Progress Report
2) Smart Growth In Alabama? Learn How
3) Uranium Enrichment Plan Scrapped In Anniston
4) Mobile "Docs" Issue Statements On Mobile's Air
5) Alabama Black Bear Alliance Announces New Website
6) Enviro Editorials Across Alabama
7) Next Forever Wild Board Meeting Fast Approaching
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1. Alabama Legislative Session Ends: A Progress Report -
The Alabama
Legislature closed up shop last week (June 9) in a flurry of activity.
So,
how did the environment do?
In terms of passing pro-environmental legislation, the legislature
did very
little. Two bills did make it to the Governor's desk. The Scrap
Tire Bill,
which was being pushed by the Association of County Commissioners
and
numerous allies passed in the final minutes of the session with
the help of
Senator Del Marsh (R) of Anniston. Also a good mining reform bill
which will
require more monies for "cleanup/reclamation" bonds
passed.
The session did produce a tremendous number of good environmental
bills,
(which was a pleasant surprise) and very few negative or anti-environmental
bills. This trend may signal the dawning of a more environmentally
friendly
statehouse. Here is a list of some of the bills that did not pass
this
session.
State Parks Funding, Inspection and Maintanence (Clean Air),
State
Environmental Policy Act, State Wilderness System, Trespass (Illegal
Dumps),
Lead Poisoning Prevention, ADEM Reform, Public Transit Funding
Constitutional
Amendemnt and Boat & Marina Disposal.
On the Budget, deep cuts in ADEM's budget and other environmentally
related
agencies could be devastating. Depending on the franchise tax
remedy, lack
of environmental funding could be a potential issue for the upcoming
special
session.
One final note: The founding of ALA-Leav, the new lobbying
arm for the
environmental community, truly made a difference this session.
For the first
time in years, the community had a constant presence in the halls.
For folks
interested in helping continue this progress down at the Capital,
please
contact Joe Turnham, ALA-Leav Director, at 1-877-ALA-LEAV or e-mail
joeturnham@aol.com
2. Smart Growth In Alabama? Learn How - The Southern
Environmental Law Center
and the Environmental Law Institute released a new report this
week that
offers solutions to sprawl in the Southeast. The 44 -page report,
"Smart
Growth In the Southeast", examines tools and strategies that
some states and
localities are using to address sprawl.
Along with the solutions, the book also documents some of the
growing
problems with uncontrolled urban growth. Check out these figures:
# The Southeast has lost 14% of its farmland - over 10 million
acres between
1982 and 1997.
## In Atlanta approximately 500 acres are developed each week.
### People in Birmingham drive on average 32 miles a day.
For copies of the report contact Pia Nierman at SELC at 804-977-4090
or
pnierman@selcva.org or download the report at
http://www.southernenvironment.org
3. Uranium Enrichment Plant Plans Scrapped - According
to the Associated
Press (June 11), A Maryland company has scrapped plans to build
a $2.5
billion uranium enrichment plant, with Fort McClellan in Anniston
among the
sites under consideration. Officials with the United States Enrichment
Corp,
stated that they were unable to overcome challenges associated
with the
Atomic Vapor Isotope Seperation process. The plant was expected
to employ as
many as 1600 people and produce enriched uranium to fuel nuclear
reactors.
The Bama Environmental News (BEN) first reported story this
story on February
23rd of this year.
4. Mobile "Docs" Issue Statement On Mobile's Air
- "Signed, Sealed and
Delivered. In four recent letters, physicians have expessed concern
regarding the environmental difficulties overtaking Mobile County."
That was the headline of the full page ad that was published
in the Mobile
Register's Sunday June 13th edition. The ad included 4 letters
written by
the Environmental Health Committee of the Medical Society of Mobile
County,
Regina Benjamin M.D. President of the Medical Society of Mobile
County,
Bernard Eichold II, M.D. , Health Officer and Marc S. Gottlieb,
M.D., Chair
of the Mobile County Board of Health.
Mobile Bay Watch posted the 4 strongly worded letters in their
entirety in an
effort to call attention to Mobile County's air pollution problems.
The high
level of concern expressed by the physicians is very noteworthy
and
significant. If you would like more information about the letters
and the
ad, contact Mobile Bay Watch at 334-665-1385 or e-mail
callaway@mobilebaywatch.org
5. Alabama Black Bear Alliance Gets New Website - ABBA's
got a new website!
No, not the 70's Swedish pop supergroup. We are talking about
the Alabama
Black Bear Alliance. For folks interested in following the status
of this
important research and educational project, please visit their
website at:
http://www.anhinga.com/abba.html
6. Enviro Editorials Across Alabama - Here are excerpts
from two outstanding
editorials that recently appeared in Decatur and Huntsville.
"Mussel Revival Needed for a Healthy River" - ..."The
lessons from our past
should keep us from making the same mistakes in the future. The
mighty
Tennessee, we have found is actually fragile. It must be protected
because so
many species are dependent upon the other to live.
If the bottom of the food chain dies, it won't be long until
the problem that
became the major worry of the next species on the list hits home
to the human
race.
Mussels are a good indicator of the river's health, and if
these can be
re-established, it will speak well of the efforts being made to
clean up the
river and its environs." - The Decatur Daily Editorial, June
13, 1999.
"Environment Suffering At the Hands of Our Lifestyles?"
"Progress!"
Or is it "Progress?"
Officials appear to be getting itchy to get asphalt down on
the ground for
the Memphis to Atlanta highway. Last week, Decatur Chamber of
Commerce
official John Seymour and lobbyist Ronnie Flippo publicly spazzed
out at a
meeting about the pace of planning.
The reason? A federally-required Environmental Impact Statement
is taking
longer than normal because officials must locate historic and
environmentally
sensitive areas in the numerous proposed route locations. It may
be another
year before the EIS is submitted and possibly approved, after
which
construction might begin.
Danged environment!
Birds and flowers and creeks that by golly won't be hurt by
a coupla feet of
life-killing silt ruin everything! Who needs those tiny mussels
and
twittering warblers anyway! Graceland, Beale Street and Hotlanta
await us!
Hey, I'm all for getting to Memphis and Atlanta faster. Backwoods
Mississippi and Georgia aren't my ideal traveling routes. But
I want that
EIS report to be thorough, and if it means officials need time
to do a top
job, then so be it...." Written by Outdoor Writer Alan Clemons
with the
Huntsville Times
7. Next Forever Wild Meeting: Input Wanted - The next
Forever Wild Board
meeting will be held Friday June 25th at 10:00 at the Wehle Nature
Center
near Eufaula Alabama. For directions and info about the meeting
please call
State Lands at 334-242-3484.
*Input Requested - As a member of the Forever Wild Board of
Directors, please
feel free to e-mail (pkbyington@aol.com)
or call me at 205-226-7739 or
254-8805 (before 9:00), to share information, ask questions or
voice concerns
about Forever Wild. I want your input!! - PB.
Please share BEN with friends and fellow conservationists.
If you have any questions about BEN, contact Pat Byington at
205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com
