July 17, 2003

#204

1) U.S. Steel Donates Land to Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust
2) Alabama Enviro Groups Mount Legal Challenge to National Forest Rules
3) Proposed Water Compact Denounced At Gadsden Rally
4) Alabama Power Unveils New Multi-Million Enviro Controls To Reduce Ozone
Pollution
5) BEN Notes - Cahaba River Development Public Hearing, Upper Cahaba
Watershed Study, Hooked on the Outdoors, Dog River Clearwater Revival's "Dog Paddle",
AWF's State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals, Alabama Coastal Foundation Honored

Applications are now being accepted for the 2003 ADEM Awards in Pollution Prevention Program. Common P2 practices include reducing energy and water usage, reducing the amount of hazardous materials and solid waste generated, and the protection of natural resources through conservation or increased efficiency. ADEM presents the annual awards to recognize facilities that put forth extra efforts into pollution prevention and environmental protection.

The program is open to businesses, industries, DOD and educational facilities and utilities in Alabama. ADEM's P2 awards will be presented in the fall of 2003 and the application deadline is 5:00 p.m., August 6th. Applications may be downloaded from ADEM's website at http://www.adem.state.al.us . To request an application to be mailed or for more info, contact Gavin Adams with ADEM's P2 Unit at 334-394-4353 or e-mail him at mga@adem.state.al.us

1. U.S. Steel Donates Land to Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust - Last week, according to the Birmingham News, U.S. Steel agreed to give $1 million and sell land to be preserved along Jefferson County area waterways for $2.7 million less than its value to the Black Warrior-Cahaba River Land Trust.

The land and cash donation is the 2nd largest in the company's history nationwide. The land, which has been appraised at $6.7 million will be sold to the Land Trust for $4 million. The pending transaction would protect 20.5 miles of streams, including 11.6 miles along the Cahaba River, 5.3 miles along Village Creek and 3.6 miles of Shades Creek.

The Land Trust was established several years ago with $30 million that Jefferson County agreed to spend in restitution for violating water quality laws. According to the Land Trust, the group now protects more than 60 miles of waterway and 3,300 acres in Jefferson County.

All of the U.S. Steel land is expected to be open to the public for recreation and the $1 million donation will be placed with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to provide money for canoe launches, walking trails and other public-use facilities throughout Jefferson County.

2. Alabama Enviro Groups Mount Legal Challenge to National Forest Rules - According to the Anniston Star, a coalition of 18 national, regional and Alabama environmental groups have mounted a legal challenge to new national forest regulations that are part of the Bush administration's Healthy Forests Initiative. The coalition filed the lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Montgomery. Members of the coalition say it is the first lawsuit of its kind in the nation.

The Alabama groups joining the legal action include WildLaw, Wild South, Wild Alabama and the Alabama Environmental Council. The groups are challenging the new regulations because they believe it is an attempt to remove the public from forest management planning, and will allow the U.S. Forest Service to implement destructive policies in America's 191 million acres national forest system.

For more information about this lawsuit, visit WildLaw's website at http://www.WildLaw.org.

3. Proposed Water Compact Denounced At Gadsden Rally - Several environmental groups and public officials held a rally last week in Gadsden, Alabama urging Governor Bob Riley not to sign the proposed water sharing agreement for the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basin.

The proposed settlement announced in April, outlines the use of water resources that run through Alabama and Georgia for the next 30 years. Several public officials, including Gadsden Mayor Steve Means, whose city takes its drinking water from the Coosa River and Centre, Alabama Mayor Phil Powell, whose city is depends on Weiss Lake as an important economic resource, joined the rally.

In a published Associated Press story, Jack Rutlege, general manager of the Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board said he was concerned that the proposed agreement would make it more difficult and more expensive to provide clean drinking water.

"I've been in water long enough to know that water quantity and quality go hand in hand," Rutlege told the Gadsden Times.

To learn more about the ACT Compact visit http://www.actcompact.alabama.gov or check out the Alabama River Alliance's site at http://www.alabamarivers.org.

4. Alabama Power Unveils New Multi-Million Enviro Controls To Reduce Ozone Pollution - Earlier this summer, Alabama Power announced the installation of new environmental controls to combat ozone air pollution at Units 3 and 4 at Plant Miller in west Jefferson County.

The newly installed $170 million pollution controls is the second phase of a $500 million multiyear initiative to install NOx -reduction technology at Alabama Power plants.

The recently completed improvements at Miller's units 3 and 4 are expected to reduce NOx emissions by 80 percent during the summer ozone season. When work is completed on Miller Units 1 and 2 in the spring of 2005, NOx emissions from the entire plant are expected to be cut by 78% during the summer months. That's the equivalent of removing 493,000 automobiles from Birmingham's roadways for a full year, according to Alabama Power.

5. BEN Notes - Cahaba River Development Public Hearing, Upper Cahaba Watershed Study, Hooked on the Outdoors, Dog River Clearwater Revival's "Dog Paddle", AWF's State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals, Alabama Coastal Foundation Honored

Cahaba River Development Public Hearing - According to the Cahaba River Society, a development that could set a precedent for commercial and office development near the Cahaba river's banks and the region's drinking water intake is set to have its first public hearing Monday, July 21, 6:00 p.m. at Vestavia Hills City Hall on Highway 31. The Cahaba River Society recommends the city deny the project. For more information about the project contact the Cahaba River Society at 205-32-CLEAN or the city of Vestavia Hills at 205-978-0130 or the developer Chris Matthews - at 967-9960.

Upper Cahaba Watershed Study - The Cahaba River, in addition to being a primary drinking water source for metro Birmingham, is nationally recognized for its biodiversity and recreational value.

To address the many environmental and development issues facing the Upper Cahaba, an 18 month study has been commissioned to develop a plan for the region.

For more information about the project and how to get involved, contact Tom Maxwell, Regional Planning Commission for Greater Birmingham at 205-251-8139 or visit the Upper Cahaba Watershed Study website at http://www.cahabastudy.com

Hooked on the Outdoors - Check out the August edition of "Hooked on the Outdoors" where you can find a profile of Alabama nature photographer Beth Maynor Young. The story can also be accessed at http://www.ruhooked.com/readit.htm.You can also see Beth's latest notecards at http://www.cahabariverpublishing.com

Dog River Clearwater Revival's "Dog Paddle" - One of my favorite events -- Make sure to make room on your schedule to attend the Dog River Clearwater Revival's 2nd Annual "Dog Paddle" ... a canoe/kayak/rowboat race at the Beachcomber Marina on Saturday, August 16 from 9:00 to 1:00 p.m. For more information and to print a registration form flyer, log onto - http://dogriver.southalabama.edu. Proceeds from the "Dog Paddle" will be used for projects that have a positive impact on water quality in Dog River in Mobile, Alabama.

AWF's State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals - Come join Alabama's top wild game chefs at the Alabama Wildlife Federation's State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals on July 26th, 6:00 p.m. under the train shed in downtown Montgomery. In addition to the great food, there will be music and a silent auction. Tickets are $25, with proceeds going to AWF programs and projects. For more information call 334-285-4550.

Alabama Coastal Foundation Honored - The Alabama Coastal Foundation (ACF) recently received two honors for their efforts in South Alabama. This summer, ACF will be receiving a "Spirit Award" from Coastal America for their Cypress Tree Planting Habitat Restoration Project. Later in the fall, ACF will be the recipients of a first place Gulf Guardian award in the Youth/Education category for the Coastal Kids Quiz from the Gulf of Mexico Program. To find out more information about these awards and ACF programs - call them at 251-990-6002.