SUSTAINING THE FLOW

A newsletter for partners of the Alabama Rivers Alliance

In two weeks, we will have the opportunity to go to the polls once again for an important election. Not only will we be choosing our next President, but Alabama has a brand new congressional district! If you happen to live in Congressional District 2, you have the rare occurrence of an actual competitive race in Alabama. This is a tight race and your vote matters! Learn whether you are in District 2 and more voter info at this link. 

The right – and responsibility – to vote is something we take very seriously at the Alabama Rivers Alliance, because we know how important elected officials are when it comes to making decisions about protecting our waterways and the many aspects of our lives that impact clean water. We also know that the right to vote is not shared equally among all individuals. States across the country, including Alabama, have been passing legislation that makes voting more challenging, particularly for certain populations. We are dedicating the October 2024 issue of our partner newsletter to the importance of voting by highlighting activities happening around the state where you can get involved in helping GET OUT THE VOTE for November 5 and other ways to get involved with our many partners working on voting rights and voter access in Alabama!

P.S. Don’t forget to join us today at noon today (October 22) for Water is Life: Get Out the Vote with League of Women Voters of Alabama and the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. Click here to register or join us live.

REGULATORY NEWS & COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Relevant environmental regulatory updates & opportunities to let agencies know how their decisions can impact your work.

ADEM NOTICE OF NDPES APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has released several notices of NDPES applications to discharge treated wastewater into Alabama's waters that are now open for comment. Several applications were received for industrial facilities, mineral extraction, and other public or private facilities in many watersheds across Alabama. See the notice and instructions to comment here. 

GOOD TO KNOW: ADEM DIRECTOR'S REPORT TO AEMC

Read a copy of ADEM Director Lance LeFleur's most recent report to the Alabama Environmental Management Commission, the seven-member Governor-appointed panel that oversees ADEM. This report from the October 11, 2024 meeting started the new FY25 fiscal year with a report of ADEM's Unified Strategic Plan and goals, read it here.

PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS ALABAMA

Amplifying the voices of those working for change in Alabama by celebrating news, wins of all sizes, milestones, AND ways others could use support! Submit your news so we can celebrate you!

• Greater Birmingham Ministries has prepared non-partisan Election Guides for the upcoming November 5 general election. See the Jefferson County Election Guide here and Alabama Statewide Election Guide here.  
• Energy Alabama has been tracking the Silicon Ranch solar project proposed in Montgomery County and are encouraging people to attend the Board of Adjustment meeting or write to local officials supporting the project. The Montgomery City Board of Adjustments Hearing is anticipated to be November 21 at 5 pm. Read more about the project here and anticipated hearing here.
• Read about "Africatown’s historic legacy of resilience and revival" with stories from Felice Harris, Plateau neighborhood President, and Ramsey Sprague, Board President of the Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition (MEJAC) in SELC's blog here.
• Black Warrior Riverkeeper has submitted comments to ALDOT with SELC opposing the Northern Beltline project to expand I-65. Read their analysis and comments here.
• Congratulations to BlackBelt Women Rising's Executive Director Portia Shepard for being a finalist for the 2024 Catalyst Award from Rachel's Network! Read more here.
• Wild Alabama is searching for Legacy Trails Volunteers to help them complete trail upgrades by the end of 2024! Sign up and learn more about the project here.
• The Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network has welcomed a new Executive Director, Alan Gurganus! Congratulations, Alan! Wish him a warm welcome on Facebook here.
• Members of BlackBelt Women Rising, Huntsville Environmental Coalition, and those in opposition to the Belle Mina quarry recently attended and spoke at the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council meeting in Huntsville. Read more about issues discussed at that meeting here. 
• ARA is finishing our big office move this month and we can't wait to welcome y'all to our new space at Avonwood! Our new address is 4439 5th Avenue South, Suite 1000 Birmingham, AL 35222
• ICYMI: The USEPA finalized it's rule for requiring drinking water systems to identify and replace lead pipe within 10 years. Read more details here.
• As we've watched recent hurricane batter the Southeast, it's important for us to keep the concept of building floodplain resilience central to our water work. Read more about the idea and policy approaches to get there from River Network here. 

This newsletter is created by a small team with limited resources, please use reply to this email or click below to submit newsletter items from your organization! 

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