August 6, 2004
#231
1) Deadline On Tri-State Water Talks Passes
2) ADEM Shuts Down Fort McClellan Cleanup Citing Violations
3) RATT : A Pollution Prevention Success Story
4) BEN Notes : Legacy Position Available, American Hiking Society Southeast Trails, Ray Vaughan Featured In Grist Magazine, Portico Magazine Features Captain Compost, Water Quality Conference, Environmental Defense Seafood Selector, Alabama Coastal Birdfest
1. Deadline On Tri-State Water Talks Passes - TA Saturday deadline aimed at passing a water sharing agreement between Alabama and Georgia has passed with both sides far apart.
According to the Associated Press, a provision that would allow metro Atlanta to triple its consumption of water from Lake Altoona in northwest Georgia was the main stumbling block. The decade long water sharing dispute within the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin now seems bound to return to federal court.
Despite a tentative agreement that was signed in April 2003, final negotiations collapsed, reactivating previous lawsuits. "It's an extremely disappointing night," said Trey Glenn, Alabama's chief negotiator. "Alabama had to make a choice not to sacrifice our water future just to satisfy Atlanta's water needs."
2. ADEM Shuts Down Fort McClellan Cleanup Citing Violations - According to the Birmingham News, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) shut down a cleanup of old Fort McClellan property last week after finding that an Army contractor was hiding, not destroying, unexploded mortar rounds. ADEM issued an emergency administrative order citing Tetra Tech FW Inc. of New Jersey for violating state hazardous waste law.
The unexploded mortar rounds were found by ADEM on property adjacent to Fort McClellan at the Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge. According to the Anniston Star, a 'whistleblower" called the hidden munitions to ADEM's attention. The munitions appeared to have been removed from a designated cleanup location and then concealed a short distance away behind trees, some with mounds of leaves and dirt over them.
3. WRATT : A Pollution Prevention Success Story - he Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation (WRATT) out of the Shoals area has completed 3 major projects this year. These projects include:
WRATT is a first of its kind nonprofit organization that utilizes retired engineers to conduct pollution prevention assessments. To learn more about WRATT got to http://www.wratt.org
4. BEN Notes: ALegacy Position Available, American Hiking Society Southeast Trails, Ray Vaughan Featured In Grist Magazine, Portico Magazine Features Captain Compost, Water Quality Conference, Environmental Defense Seafood Selector, Alabama Coastal Birdfest
Legacy Position Available - Legacy is seeking a Marketing Manager in its Montgomery Office. This position is responsible for developing and implementing environmental public awareness programs, serving as a liaison to a volunteer committee, marketing Legacy's programs to the public, soliciting in-kind and financial support, website management and publication design. Requirements include; Bachelor's degree in Public Relations/Marketing or 5 years experience in a related field; strong interpersonal and communications skills; and computer, graphic design and website management. Prior nonprofit experience desired. Candidate should forward resume and salary requirements to arrive no later than August 16. Resumes without salary requirements will not be considered. Send resumes to: Legacy, Inc., P.O. Box 3813, Montgomery, AL. 36109. No phone calls please.
American Hiking Society Southeast Trails - The American Hiking Society and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program have joined forces to create a project that seeks to build a 5,000 mile interconnected network of hiking trails in the Southeast, including Alabama. This project known as the Southern Appalachians Initiative has spawned the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition. The Coalition does offer a free monthly newsletter which can be subscribed at http:///www.americanhiking.org/alliance/newsletter.html To learn more about members of the coalition go to http://www.alabamatrail.com/pages/1/index.htm or http://www.alabamatrailsasso.org
Ray Vaughan Featured In Grist Magazine - WildLaw founder and executive director Ray Vaughan is featured in Grist Magazine, a popular national online environmental magazine. To check out the interviews from Grist and from the public go to:
http://www.gristmagazine.com/interactivist/vaughan071904.asp and
http://www.gristmagazine.com/interactivist/vaughan072304.asp
Portico Magazine Features Captain Compost - Check out this month's edition of Portico Magazine ( http://www.porticomag.com ) for a story on William Edward Cuerton II, a pastor and Vulcan Materials systems analyst by day - and "Captain Compost" by night. A great story. Learn more about Captain Compost at http://www.captaincompostalabama.com
Water Quality Conference - Make plans to attend "The Role of Forests in Urbanizing Landscapes; Maintenance of Water Quality" sponsored by Auburn University's Center for Forest Sustainability. The conference is scheduled for August 25th, 8:00am to 4:30pm at The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center. To register call Lisa Ditchkoff at 334-329-8288.
Environmental Defense Seafood Selector - Here is a fascinating new website from Environmental Defense about seafood - http://www.environmentaldefense.org/go/seafood
Alabama Coastal Birdfest - Make sure to mark your calendars to attend the Alabama Coastal Birdfest, October 14-17 on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Access schedules and programs at http://www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com