1) ADEM Assesses $1.2 Million In Fines During First 8 Months
2) Poll: Public Overwhelmingly Supports CARA Legislation
3) Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge Bill Passes First Hurdle
4) Mark Your Calendar: Celebrate Southern Rivers on July 20th

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1. ADEM Assesses $1.2 Million In Fines For First 8 Months - The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) assessed penalties totaling $1,262,405 for violations of environmental regulations during the first eight months of fiscal year 2000 (Oct. 1, 1999 through May 25, 2000). The agency issued 114 administrative orders with monetary penalties and nine orders without penalties. The 8 month total in administrative fines surpasses the fiscal year 1999 12 month total of $1,198,355. In FY 1998 ADEM assessed $1.8 million in fines.

Breaking it down by regulatory program, in FY 2000 the Air program has assessed $478,700 in penalties, the Land program $407,900, the Water program $368,805 and Emergency Response $10,000.

All ADEM administrative fines, minus ADEM's enforcement costs as allowed by the Examiner of Public Accounts are remitted to the state's general fund. For more information about ADEM enforcement, contact Clark Bruner at 334-271-7700

2. Poll: Public Overwhelmingly Supports CARA Legislation - According to a June 11-13, 2000 poll conducted by the Tarrance Group, a national polling group, an overwhelming three out of every four (75%) voters in the U.S. favor setting up a permanent land and water conservation trust fund to protect land, water, wildlife and other national resources of our country. This poll bodes well for the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (Also known as CARA or S. 2123), which passed the U.S. House 315 to 102 in May, and is awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate. If enacted, CARA will allocate more than $52 million a year toward recreational, wildlife, land acquisition, historic preservation and community programs in Alabama.

The poll, which was released by Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation and the Wilderness Society, also examines and confirms the broad bipartisan support a permanent trust fund has among Democrats, Republicans and Independents. For example, eighty-percent (80%) of Democrats favor a permanent trust fund, seventy percent (70%) of Republicans support it, and
seventy-three percent (73%) of Independents favor the idea.

If you want to learn more about CARA, the Land Water and Conservation Fund (LWCF) and this poll, please visit the Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation website at: http://www.ahrinfo.org

3. Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge Bill Passes First Hurdle - Last week, a U.S. House Resources Committee approved legislation to establish a 3,500 acre National Wildlife Refuge along the Cahaba River in Bibb County. A full House vote is expected next month.

The proposed Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge is cosponsored by Rep. Spencer Bachus and Rep. Bob Riley in the House. The property, a 3.5 mile stretch along the Cahaba River, contains more than 22 imperiled species and is home to the Cahaba lily. According to an official with the Nature Conservancy, buying the 3,500 acres will cost between $4 and $5 million. Most of the
proposed refuge property is currently owned by U.S. Alliance Coosa Pines, a forestry firm who has agreed to sell the property.

To learn more about the proposed Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge contact the Nature Conservancy of Alabama at 205-251-1155.

4. Mark Your Calendar: Celebrate Southern Rivers on July 20th - The Alabama Rivers Alliance, Cahaba River Society, Nature Conservancy of Alabama and the Alabama Environmental Council have joined forces to celebrate Southern rivers
and launch an effort to promote river conservation photography, including the work of Beth Maynor Young, whose Birmingham studio was destroyed by fire on April 5th.

To kickoff this effort, the four groups will be hosting "Seeing the Light: A Celebration of Rivers," a benefit/auction on Thursday, July 20, 5:30, to 8:00pm at the B & A Warehouse in Birmingham. Along with the reception and auction, there will also be a new multimedia show on Southern rivers featuring the work of photographer Beth Maynor Young.

Proceeds from the event will go to the River Photography Fund, a fund that will commission new photographic work from Southern artists and create educational materials about the rivers of Alabama and the surrounding region.

To reserve tickets (attendees will receive a commemorative Alabama river poster) or make a tax-deductible contribution to the River Photography Fund, call Jessica Ulrich at the Alabama Rivers Alliance at 205-322-6395, or e-mail julrich@alabamarivers.org. The ticket price is $25. You can also reserve or purchase copies of Beth Maynor Young's first limited edition Southern Rivers Portfolio, by visiting her website at http://www.cahabariverpublishing.com or call 205-969-1800. A portion of the sales from the Portfolio will go to benefit river conservation.