Bama Environmental News

#240

1) Birmingham Fails New Air Quality Standards
2) Sprawl Report: Imperiled Species in Bibb and Shelby Cited
3) ADEM Hires New Director
4) BEN Notes: Job Opening at The Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust, Sierra Club Music Benefit, "Master Wildlifer" Program, Community Culture and Environment Workshop, NPS/Water Quest Conference, New "Delta Book" Available, Tobacco Free Alabama

1. Birmingham Fails New Air Quality Standards - According to a Birmingham News December 18th report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cited the Birmingham area for failure to meet new more stringent air pollution rules for fine particles that are linked to lung and heart disease and cancer. Birmingham tied Atlanta for having the dirtiest (particulate pollution) air in the South.

The new rule governs fine particles 2.5 microns or smaller or one-thirtieth the width of a human hair. The particles come from industrial and traffic sources. The new and more stringent standard was created because recent health studies showed how fine particles can penetrate deeper into lungs than the larger particles. The state of Alabama is now required to produce plans within the next three years that will reduce air pollution to the required levels by 2010. If the state does not succeed in lowering particle pollution levels in a noncompliant area such as Birmingham by 2015, they could face penalties such as loss of federal highway funds.

2. Sprawl Report: Imperiled Species in Bibb and Shelby Cited - A new report produced by the National Wildlife Federation, Smart Growth America and NatureServe has found that the rapid conversion of once-natural areas and farmland into subdivisions, shopping centers, roads and parking lots has become a leading threat to America's native plants and animals.

The report, titled "Endangered by Sprawl" shows that imperiled plants and animals are not found only in remote wildernesses, but are intertwined with where most people live. For example, in the report, even though the nation's 35 fastest growing large metro areas comprise just 8% of the land area of the lower 48 states, they are home to nearly one-third (29%) of the imperiled species analyzed - nearly 1200 species - in all. And remarkably, 553 of these species (13%) are found only in the fast growing metro areas. In Alabama, the report identifies Shelby County, which is home to 27 imperiled species, as one of the fast growing areas nationally that has been impacted by sprawl.

To view the entire report go to http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org .

3. ADEM Hires New Director - On January 6th the Alabama Environmental Management Commission hired Trey Glenn for director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Mr. Glenn, who currently serves as director of the Office of Water Resources was hired after a month long search. He will start the position on February 1st.

4. BEN Notes: Job Opening at The Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust, Sierra Club Music Benefit, "Master Wildlifer" Program, Community Culture and Environment Workshop, NPS/Water Quest Conference, New "Delta Book" Available, Tobacco Free Alabama

Job Opening at The Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust - The Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust, a local non-profit in Birmingham, Alabama, seeks a communication and outreach coordinator. This position requires excellent communication skills and commitment to river and open space conservation. Duties will include the development of newsletters and publications, website management, volunteer coordination, press releases, special event planning and basic administrative and fundraising duties. Must be motivated, enthusiastic and a team player. Send resume with references and salary requirements to: 2121 8th Avenue North, Room 802, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.

Sierra Club Music Benefit - Singer/songwriter guitarist and poet Andrew McKnight brings his "mountain gumbo" of original folk, blues, bluegrass and old-time music to the Moonlight Cafe at 628 Montgomery Hwy in Vestavia Hills, Tuesday, January 18th at 7:30. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Sierra Club Cahaba Group's Inner City Outing program. For more info call 205-822-1400 or visit http://www.moonlightmusiccafe.com

"Master Wildlifer" Program - Landowners, land managers, hunters, outdoor enthusiast and others interested in learning more about integrating wildlife considerations into their current land use and management activities are invited to attend a unique educational event scheduled on Tuesdays from February 1 - March 15. The course will be conducted in 6 Alabama counties. Contact Jim Armstrong at 334-844-9233 for more registration information or download a brochure at http://www.alabamawildlife.org

Community Culture and Environment Workshop - The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and the Weeks Bay National Estuary Research Reserve is hosting a "Community Culture & the Environment: Understanding a Sense of Place Workshop - Coastal Perceptions - on January 19-20 at Blakeley State Park's Wehle Nature Center in Spanish Fort. The program is limited to 40 participants. For more information visit http://www.mobilebaynep.com

NPS/Water Quest Conference - The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is holding its 16th Annual Nonpoint Source Conference on January 26th in Montgomery at the Embassy Suites. For more information about this event call 334-394-4360. The next day - the Business Council of Alabama will be hosting "Water Quest" at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery. For more info about this conference go to http://www.bcatoday.org or call Judy Morgan at 334-240-8711.

New "Delta Book" Available - The Alabama Coastal Foundation and NewSouth Books invite you to explore the diversity of the our Delta's natural beauty and cultural and environmental significance through "In the Realm of Rivers" a new book about the region that is now available. For more information about purchasing the book, contact the Alabama Coastal Foundation at 251-990-6002 or visit http://www.alcoastalfoundation.org

Tobacco Free Alabama - Tobacco Free Alabama will be hosting an advocacy conference on February 17th. Dr. Jeffery Wigand , whose life inspired the movie, The Insider, and Coach Pat Sullivan, former Heisman Trophy Winner and oral cancer survivor will be featured speakers. For more info, call 334-324-7510 or visit http://www.tobaccofreealabama.org/Conference.htm