Three years ago this month, I made a promise to the people of this state that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will do everything within its power to ensure the plans by power companies to close and secure their coal ash ponds will protect our land and water resources now and in the future. […]

Thanks to billions of federal dollars to assist in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Alabama has an unprecedented opportunity to address longstanding and, in some cases, dire problems plaguing water and sewer systems across the state. It is imperative we take advantage of this opportunity to provide the help these systems, and our […]

When an industry proposes to locate to an area, nearby residents, businesses and community groups all have a vested interest in what that industry wants to do and how those plans will affect them and their environment. Providing them a platform to both learn more about the industry’s plans and to voice any concerns they […]

Recent heavy rains put the spotlight on one of the most common yet extremely difficult to resolve environmental concerns – untreated or partially treated sewage getting into our rivers, lakes and streams. Inflow of rainwater through cracked pipes or faulty manhole covers and infiltration of groundwater through deteriorated sewer lines can overwhelm a sewer system […]

As the director of the state agency charged with safeguarding Alabama’s environment, I have great respect for and deep appreciation of our state’s wonderful natural resources and rich biodiversity of species and habitats, including many that are unique to Alabama. Protecting human health and those environmental treasures is precisely the reason the Alabama Department of […]

The mission of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management is to ensure for all Alabamians “a safe, healthful and productive environment.” It’s a mission that ADEM and its nearly 600 employees take very seriously. Ensuring a safe, healthful and productive environment means more than simply being the environmental cop, though that certainly is part of […]