BEN - Bama Environmental News: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

BEN - July 1, 2011 #359

Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, Alabama

Special in this Edition: Mobile Register Op-ed by Casi Callaway "One goal: Restore environment and economy," Alabama Rivers Alliance & SELC Response to Water War Court Decision, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center Receives LEED Gold, Dothan City Schools to Make Buildings Greener, Fresh Air Family Seeking Central Alabama Event Coordinator, Green Building Focus Events

************************************************

Fresh Air Family

http://www.freshairfamily.org

Partners for Environmental Progress Wins Gulf of Mexico Program Gulf Guardian Award

http://www.pepmobile.com/2011%20Events/PEP%20Wins%20Gulf%20Guardian%20Award%20press%20release%206-22-11.pdf

*************************************

Op-eds, Links, Audio and Videos

Mobile Register Op-ed by Casi Callaway "One goal: Restore environment and economy"

http://mobilebaykeeper.org/news/one-goal-restore-environment-and-economy

Hunter Nichols Paddling From Birmingham to the Coast

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/06/the_long_paddle_hunter_nichols.html

WBHM "Gulf Watch" Series (audio)

http://wbhm.org/News/2011/GulfWatch.html

E.O Wilson - Lord of the Ants

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/06/the_ant_freaks_descend.html

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/04/lord_of_the_ants_eo_wilson_com.html (video)

Alabama Rivers Alliance & SELC Response to Water War Court Decision

http://www.alabamarivers.org/press-room/headlines/alabama-rivers-alliance-and-southern-environmental-law-center-water-wars-ruling-exposes-lack-of-water-resource-planning-in-alabama

Five Star Restoration Grants Announced

http://mobilebaykeeper.org/news/projects-southeast-receive-five-star-restoration-grants-two-alabama

News Across Alabama

Little River Canyon National Preserve Expands 650 Acres Thanks to The Nature Conservancy

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/alabama/newsroom/nature-conservancy-transfers-650-acres-to-the-national-park-service-1.xml

Court Strengthens Georgia's Position in Water War

http://www.ajc.com/news/water-ruling-strengthens-georgias-992527.html

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20110628/wire/110629699

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center Receives LEED Gold

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2011/06/30/ruffners-nature-center-gets-leed-gold.html

ADEM Recycling Grants Near $5 million

http://www.adem.state.al.us/newsEvents/pressreleases/2011/Recyclinggrants.pdf

Dothan City Schools to Make Buildings Greener

http://www2.dothaneagle.com/news/2011/jun/23/schools-getting-green-remodel-ar-2019980/

Auburn Studies Alabama Beaches After Oil Spill

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/06/auburn_study_finds_molecular_l.html

Southeast Renewables to Recycle and Reuse 80% of Tornado Debris

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/06/storm_debris_recycling_program.html

Events & Job Openings

Fresh Air Family Seeking Central Alabama Event Coordinator

Send resume to: verna@freshairfamily.org

Green Building Focus Events - July 14 (Huntsville), August 12 (Montgomery), Sept. 15-16 (Birmingham)

http://www.greenbuildingfocus.com/

Wild & Scenic Film Festival - Sept. 8th in Birmingham

http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/wild-and-scenic-film-festival

Alabama Wildlife Federation's Wild Game Cook-off Calendar

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/hunting/?pageID=58

Cahaba River Society's "Fry Down" Sept. 25th in Trussville

http://www.frydown.com/

Take Pride Statewide Annual Conference - October 11-12 (Early registration deadline special July 31st)

http://www.auntielitter.org/takepridestatewide.html

Southeast Renewables to Recycle & Reduce 80% of Tornado Debris

Photos by Rob Brewer

Visited the new Southeast Renewables facility at the New Georgia Landfill in Birmingham. Good to see the debris being reused and recycled instead of buried in the landfill.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/06/storm_debris_recycling_program.html

Sunday, June 19, 2011

BEN - June 19, 2011 #358

Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center Groundbreaking

Special in this Edition: BEN Publisher Pat Byington's Birmingham News Op-ed on Climate Change, Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center Breaks Ground, Lake Guntersville State Park Tornado Damage (video), Half of the Newly Dedicated National Recreation Trails Established in Alabama, Governor Bentley Declares Drought Emergency

************************************************

BEN Publisher Pat Byington's Birmingham News Op-ed on Climate Change

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/06/viewpoints_climate_change_foll.html

Beth Stewart Named River Network/Tom's of Maine 2011 National River Hero

http://www.rivernetwork.org/news/river-network-and-toms-maine-announce-2011-national-river-heroes

Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center Breaks Ground

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2011/06/talladega-mountains-natural-resource.html

Southern Forest Futures Project Webinars

http://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/interactions-and-challenges-identified-by-the-southern-forest-futures-project

*************************************

Op-eds, Links and Videos

Message from Hurricane Creekkeepers' John Wathan - A Personal Account About the Tornadoes (video)

http://www.alabamarivers.org/

Lake Guntersville State Park Tornado Damage (video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPqcGle9IL8&feature=related

Growth in Organic Farming in Alabama (WBHM Audio)

http://wbhm.org/News/2011/organics.html

Alabama Environmental Council's Michael Churchman Op-ed on Mercury Pollution

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/06/my_view_epa_should_regulate_me.html

Praise for Passage of Forever Wild Constitutional Amendment Legislation - Vote to be held Nov. 2012

Montgomery Advertiser Forever Wild Editorial

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110606/OPINION01/106050308/Advertiser-editorial-Back-voters-hands

Dothan Eagle Forever Wild Editorial

http://www2.dothaneagle.com/news/2011/jun/03/editorial-vote-preservation-ar-1923596/

Gadsden Times Forever Wild Editorial

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20110603/NEWS/110609911/1050/OPINION?Title=OUR-VIEW-Forever-Wild-rests-with-voters

Birmingham News Forever Wild Editorial

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/06/our_view_legislature_puts_fore.html

News Across Alabama

More than Half of the Newly Dedicated National Recreation Trails Established in Alabama

http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/AMERICAS-GREAT-OUTDOORS-Deputy-Secretary-Hayes-Senator-Durbin-Announce-Designation-of-41-New-National-Recreation-Trails.cfm

Birmingham Tornado Debris to be Reused and Recycled

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/06/storm_debris_recycling_program.html

Governor Bentley Declares Drought Emergency - 1808 wildfires have burned 41,000 since January

http://www.forestry.state.al.us/pr.aspx?ID=5237&sm=c_1

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Propose Expansion of Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge

http://www.forestry.state.al.us/PDFs/GrandBay/Proposed_Expansion_of_Grand_Bay_National_Wildlife_Refuge.pdf

New National Water Research Headquarters to be Built on University of Alabama Campus

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110617/news/110619743

Forever Wild Preparing for November 2012

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/06/alabamas_forever_wild_board_ad.html

Energy Huntsville Initiative Aims to make City a National Leader

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/06/energy_huntsville_initiative_a.html

Events & Job Openings

SweetWater Beer Launches Annual Save the Black Warrior River Campaign

http://savetheblackwarrior.com/

7th Annual Tallapoosa River Basin State of the Watershed Conference - June 22, 8:30-5:00 in Alexander City

https://fp.auburn.edu/icaae/EventWebReg/SOWC/2011/SOWChome.aspx

Land Trust of Huntsville & north Alabama's "Tuesday on the Trails"

http://landtrustnal.org/tuesdays-on-the-trail-series-in-june-and-july/

Kid's Gulf Day of Discovery and Kruise - June 29th

http://mobilebaykeeper.org/events/kids-gulf-discovery-day-kids-kruise

Alabama Wildlife Federation's Wild Game Cook-off Calendar

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/hunting/?pageID=58

Cahaba River Society's "Fry Down" Sept. 25th in Trussville

http://www.frydown.com/

Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center Groundbreaking

State Representative Richard Lindsey

Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center Groundbreaking

On June 17th, after a 15 year effort, Jacksonville State University "broke" ground on the construction of the Talladega Mountains Natural Resource Center. The new 15,000 sq. ft. center located outside Heflin, Alabama, near Interstate 20, will be an environmental education magnate and an eco-tourism gateway for the region. Along with the JSU Talladega Mountains Field School, the center will also house the Cleburne County Operations Center for Emergency Management and 911 offices.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Bama Environmental News (BEN) Turning 13 - Archived Editions

I started BEN 13 years ago in October of 1998. At that time, I sent out 25-30 emails. Today, some 350+ editions later, we have 3000+ readers on our email list and about 1000 visitors a month to the website. Check out the evolution of BEN. Below is an archive of BEN from October 1998 to 2006 (the first 250 editions before we went to the blog format). Pretty neat link, especially if you care about Alabama's environment and it's history.

http://www.bamanews.com/archives-BEN2.html

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

BEN - June 1, 2011 #357

Special in this Edition: Auntie Litter Cancels Earth Day Parade - then Supports Tornado Relief, $3.2 Billion Spent on Environmental Cleanup Projects in Anniston Region, Tornado Debris in Birmingham to be Recycled, Freedom Riders Park Moving Forward, Weeks Bay Bald Eagle Bash - June 4th

************************************************

One Last Final Push For Forever Wild - Take Action Today!!

http://conservationalabama.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=933

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild Series on al.com

Check out the entire "Keeping Alabama Forever Wild" series

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/index.html

*************************************

Op-eds, Links and Videos

Anniston Star Editorial - Cleanups in Region

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/13496351/article-‘We-survived--We’re-tough-’-Spending--3-2-billion-on-Anniston?instance=opinion_right

Northern Beltline - the St. Clair Effect (Audio)

http://wbhm.org/News/2011/betlline-st.clair.html