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The Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) at UAB has unanimously passed a Resolution imploring the University of Alabama (UA) to stop the proposed Shepherd Bend Mine from potentially polluting Birmingham’s drinking water.  UA is a major owner of land and mineral rights sought by the mining company Shepherd Bend, LLC for a proposed coal mine on the Black Warrior River’s Mulberry Fork in Walker County.  The 1,773-acre strip mine would discharge wastewater 800 feet across the river from a Birmingham Water Works Board intake facility providing tap water to 200,000 Birmingham-area residents.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has been recognized by the Cahaba River Society for its work in cleaning up illegal solid waste dump sites within the Cahaba River Watershed.  The Cahaba River Society presented ADEM with the Society’s Public Service Award during its annual meeting that was held on February 2.

Southern Research Prepared to Help the Coal-Fired Utilities Industry Address New Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Cost-Effectively

Southern Research to give technical presentations at EUEC in Phoenix

Late in 2011, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Dec. 21 announced new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)—limiting mercury, acid gases and other toxic pollution from power plants—engineers and technicians at Birmingham-based Southern Research were already working with industry to respond to dictates of the new rule, one which could prove costly to some coal-fired utilities.

Birmingham residents to deliver signatures from campaign on Change.org on Feb. 2 outside University of Alabama Board of Trustees meeting.

Campaign demands trustees commit to keep coal mines off university land.

Alabama college students, local organizations, and Birmingham residents will gather on Thursday to protest the proposed Shepherd Bend coal mine. Joseph Olson, a student at University of Alabama at Birmingham who launched the campaign on Change.org, will deliver more than 6,000 petition signatures demanding that University of Alabama Board of Trustees keep coal mines off university land.

Birmingham craft beer manufacturers Avondale Brewing Company and Good People Brewing Company both sent letters to Dr. Robert E. Witt, President of The University of Alabama (UA), asking UA to stop the Shepherd Bend Mine from potentially polluting Birmingham’s water supply.  UA is a major owner of land and mineral rights coveted by the mining company Shepherd Bend, LLC for a proposed coal mine on the Black Warrior River’s Mulberry Fork in Walker County.  The 1,773-acre strip mine would discharge wastewater 800 feet across the river from a Birmingham Water Works Board intake facility providing tap water daily to 200,000 Birmingham-area residents.

The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is currently accepting applications through its Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) to continue longleaf pine restoration efforts in Alabama. The grant was awarded through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and will be made available to qualifying landowners for longleaf pine restoration on private lands.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is again providing free compliance calendars to dry cleaners that use perchloroethylene, commonly referred to as PERC, as their primary cleaning solvent.  The 2012 calendars mark the 12^th consecutive year that ADEM has provided this compliance assistance tool.  ADEM has historically provided this compliance assistance tool to more than 70 dry cleaners whose use of perchloroethylene requires specific record-keeping guidelines.

According to the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), Alabama power plants lead the way in disposal of wastes containing toxic metals into coal ash ponds.  Ten states accounted for three quarters of total pond disposal in 2010, including (in rank order): Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan.  Just 20 facilities account for more than half of the toxic metals (57 million pounds) contained in power plant waste and disposed of in surface impoundments in 2010.  Four of these are in Alabama, with Alabama Power’s Miller Steam Plant (Jefferson County) ranked first in the nation in this category.  Alabama Power’s Gaston, Gorgas and Barry Steam Plants round out the top twenty.

These figures are based upon information compiled in a national database called the Toxics Release Inventory.  Power companies are required to report by volume the toxic chemicals that are contained in coal ash and other coal combustion wastes dumped into surface impoundments, or ponds, every year.  In 2010, power plants reported disposal of wastes containing 112.8 million pounds of toxic metals or metal compounds, a category that includes arsenic, chromium, lead, and other pollutants that are hazardous in small concentrations and difficult to remove from the environment once released.  According to EIP, that reflects a nine percent increase in toxics disposals since 2009, and is higher than the total reported in 2008.

Most of these surface impoundments are unlined, which means the toxins in the ash are likely to seep into groundwater or nearby creeks and rivers.  Monitoring data developed in other areas of the country shows this is happening at many coal ash surface impoundments.

Recycled aluminum, colored lucite and solar panels were used to fabricate this powerful 15 ft. tall Sun-Catcher sculpture for the City of Clearwater, Florida. "This is the wonderful opportunity for a sustainable public art project along the islands in the Cleveland Street District," says Deedee Morrison. As a sculptor and installation artist, Morrison has a particular affinity for plants, other natural forms, and light. The sculptor has coupled her interest in the natural world with a fascination for technical and scientific advances.