By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Two agricultural groups are still fighting an environmental group over who will control Alabama's environmental programs. There have been multiple lawsuits filed concerning the issue. Officials with the Alabama Forestry Association and the Alabama Farmers Federation are financing two lawsuits. Those are seeking to unseat Birmingham men Pat Byington and Scott Phillips as members of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission. Meanwhile, the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation is behind another lawsuit seeking to remove Jim Warr as acting director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. All three suits were filed in Montgomery circuit court after the commission voted in October to fire Warr as director of ADEM. Instead of stepping down, Warr maintains that state personnel rules allow him to serve as acting director until a new director is named.