Comments from the Chair, Robert W. Hastings:

Once more our state parks are threatened with closure if our state politicians do not do the job they were elected to do, and pass a state budget that adequately funds state government. Despite the regular legislative session and a special session, we still do not have a state budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1. Undoubtedly, the governor will call another special session but there is little optimism that state politicians will do what is needed to fund state government. Instead, they are once again threatening to cut funding for Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and thus threaten our state parks with possible closure. In addition, Federal matching dollars that come to the state for fish and wildlife programs will be jeopardized.

Funding for Alabama Department of Environmental Management may also be severely cut. It is critical that all of us contact our state Senators and Representatives and try to convince them that state parks, fish and wildlife programs, and environmental programs must be adequately funded. And remind them that robbing funds from Forever Wild and public education is not the way to properly fund state agencies. Do this immediately! In a few weeks it may be too late.

It’s also time to register for our Chapter Retreat scheduled for October 23-25. The Retreat will be held at the new Living River Retreat on the Cahaba River. This annual event promises to be another fun adventure with hikes, paddling on the river, and excellent speakers. (see below for more info)

We will be having our annual election at the end of the year to select Executive Committee members. Our Nominating Committee (headed by Ken Hyche) is soliciting volunteers willing to serve on the Executive Committee if elected. We always need new activists willing to serve the Chapter in this way. With only four meetings per year it is not a time-consuming commitment. But good leaders are needed to guide the Chapter in Alabama. Please consider offering your name as a candidate for the Executive Committee. Contact Ken at kennethhyche@yahoo.com.

Save the Date! October 23-25, 2015

Alabama Sierra Club Retreat

Explore, Enjoy, Protect… on 440 acres at the beautiful Living River Center on the Cahaba River. The focus will be on outings with experienced guides, hands-on learning, and exploring the beauty of the river and surrounding area.  There will be opportunities to hike, bird, hunt for fossils, and canoe the Cahaba. Lodging at the retreat center will be camp style dorms with bunk beds. You will need to bring your linens and blanket or sleeping bag, plus a pillow and towel.

Lodging and meals will be available on site. Download Registration Form Here.

September 12th, Alabamians for Restoration Conference: Rebuilding Our Earth and Our Communities

WHAT: Alabamians for Restoration Conference: Rebuilding Our Earth and Our Communities

WHERE: Jackson Steele Community Center, Freedom Rd, Hayneville, Al 36040 Lowndes County

WHEN: Saturday, September 12, 9:00am – 5:15pm

Media is encouraged to join at lunch and stay throughout the day.  Lunch is free and there will be lots of photo and interview opportunities not to mention a section of our day dedicated to media and local narratives.

The conference will bring together clergy, educators, organizers, and workers for social and environmental justice for a day of training and workshops that will cover the myriad impacts of climate change across state and sectors, how to best talk about these impacts, and how to employ solutions that both support social justice and curtail climate change.

Speakers and presenters include:
Karenna Gore from Center for Earth Ethics of Union Theological Seminary
Jacqueline Patterson from NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program
Catherine Coleman Flowers from Al Center for Rural Enterprise and Equal Justice Initiative

An opening prayer ceremony, analysis of AL issues, workshops on building solutions + networking + food and refreshments will be included.

Please RSVP here at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J95Q6J6

As summer temperatures rise, so does state-wide opposition to continued tar sands transport, storage, and planned extraction

This Spring, in the month of April, Samford University hosted their second Energy Forum. State officials, industry executives, and some out-of-state college professors spoke of their plans to continue developing the infrastructure to extract, transport, and process tar sands.  Members of the Alabama Geological Society and Alabama Oil and Gas Board even told a group of present citizens that the draft regulations for the (first-ever) extraction for tar sands is complete and headed to the (state) Oil and Gas board for review very soon.

Throughout this summer, we have witnessed corporate industries and state agencies continuing their plans to develop large-scale oil projects around our drinking water supplies and inside our communities.  Residents and community leaders are joining hands during the permitting processes and saying no more to the old way of doing business. Thanks to the dedicated citizens who are also monitoring and documenting the actions of the industry and state agencies, we are seeing some small victories.  Below is a recap of activity across the state.

In Northwest Alabama, citizens monitored, documented, and formally reported that a tar sands company violated laws when they broke ground without proper permits.  Now, the company and ADEM are rewriting its permit.  A public hearing is set for September 10th in Moulton, AL and public comments are due September 11th.  Please review its terms and learn how to comment here: http://www.adem.state.al.us/newsEvents/notices/aug15/8msi.htm

Tuscaloosa: Oil trains are traveling over our Black Warrior River and near our schools and childcare centers.  This aging infrastructure has very little structural integrity.  Please learn more information about how you can act and how to get involved with local organizations Hurricane Creekkeeper and Friends of Hurricane Creek here: Hurricane Creekkeeper: http://bakkendebate.blogspot.com/2015/07/tuscaloosa-bridge-update.html and http://www.hurricanecreek.org/

Mobile: Residents are hosting multiple educational programs, creating community tours, and engaging the City Council and its Planning Commission to demand accountability for Arc Terminals' breach of public trust in storing tens of thousands of gallons of sulfuric acid on the Mobile River without the proper City of Mobile zoning and ADEM stormwater permits.  Their storage facilities are located on the banks of the Mobile River, near downtown homes and schools.  The historic Africatown community and its advocates have also been working diligently to document and proactively resolve environmental threats within and near the community in partnership with Mobile Bay Sierra Club and Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition (MEJAC) ranging from waterway contamination to legacy soil contamination from nearby paper mill sites now vacant.  Please support our Mobile Bay Sierra Club partners and learn more about MEJAC here: https://mejac.wordpress.com/

Sierra Club President Aaron Mair (center) Visits Alabama

America's Journey for Justice

August 6 marked the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act. This was an historic measure that many Americans fought for and organized around to make a reality.  The Sierra Club, along with many of our partners in the Democracy Initiative, marked this historic anniversary on Thursday, and we are supporting the NAACP's Journey for Justice throughout the summer.

Sierra Club President Aaron Mair joined the kick-off in Selma, Alabama on August 1. He joined leaders from the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Communication Workers of America, Common Cause and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL), and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Here is blog post from President Mair with more about his experience.

Good news for people and wildlife along Valley Creek and Bankhead Lake! We have settled our lawsuit over water pollution violations at the Shannon Mine. The surface coal mine run by Shannon, LLC, a subsidiary of Drummond, operates in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties within the upper Black Warrior basin. The alleged violations affect the waters of Blue Creek and Little Blue Creek as well as unnamed tributaries, all of which flow into Valley Creek upstream of Bankhead Lake on the Black Warrior River. Both parties filed a proposed settlement decree with the court and gained approval from the U. S. Department of Justice.