Environment

As Debate Lingers, Alcoa Looks Ahead

Jeff Tiberii — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:31:16 +0000

The controversy over Alcoa and its dams on the Yadkin River was back in the news this week. There were two public forums; one about the environment, the other about the company’s request for a water quality permit. At the heart of this conflict is pollution, questions about control over hydro-electric dams, and the condition of one of the state’s most powerful natural resources, water.

Duke Study Shows No Contamination Near Fracking Wells In Arkansas

Will Michaels — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:31:36 +0000

New tests near hydraulic fracturing sites in Arkansas show no evidence of methane leaking into groundwater supplies. A study released Wednesday from Duke University found no negative effects on drinking water near fracking operations.

Debating Alcoa’s Future On the Yadkin

Jeff Tiberii — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:01:16 +0000

Residents in Stanly County spoke passionately Tuesday night about whether Alcoa should receive a water quality permit from the state. The company, which has been in the area 50 miles Northeast of Charlotte for more than 100 years, owns four hydro-electric dams along the Yadkin River. Alcoa needs a water quality permit from the state before it can seek a 50-year federal license to operate the dams. Local residents are divided on Alcoa.

Aquatic Plant Pest Spreads To Eastern NC

Will Michaels — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:06:22 +0000

An invasive plant called hydrilla is spreading from the Piedmont toward lakes near the coast.

Biologists say the aquatic weed first found in Wake County is now on river banks in northeastern North Carolina and in lakes near Wilmington. Dr. Rob Richardson is a crop science professor at N.C. State University. He says the plant grows in thick patches, which can cause problems in drinking water supplies.

"Large mats have, at times, clogged turbines," says Richardson.

Two Public Hearings Scheduled For Alcoa’s Yadkin Dam Operations

Isaac-Davy Aronson — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Two public hearings are scheduled this week in the ongoing fight over whether Alcoa should be allowed to continue operating dams on the Yadkin River.

The hydroelectric dams are about 60 miles south of the Triad, and they powered Alcoa’s aluminum plant in Badin for decades. The factory is now closed, but Alcoa is seeking another 50-year federal license to operate the dams and sell the electricity on the open market.

Wildlife Resources Commission Investigates Dead, Injured Brown Pelicans

Gurnal Scott — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:27:01 +0000

State wildlife officials are continuing to investigate the deaths and injuries of brown pelicans along the North Carolina coast. They say more than 200 of the birds have been found.

Why Legislators Are Changing State Environmental Policy

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:06:16 +0000

A variety of measures aimed at weakening environmental protections are making their way through the General Assembly. One would limit environmental regulations while another would repeal a six-year-old renewable energy policy. Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is changing its mission statement to reflect an emphasis on customer service, a move some call anti-science.

Greensboro Awaits First Draft Of New Tree Ordinance

Jeff Tiberii — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:52:05 +0000

Some residents in Greensboro are eagerly awaiting the details of a proposed tree ordinance. A city council subcommittee finished the draft for the ordinance this week, but it has not yet been made public.

The new measure comes in response to a dispute between property owners and Duke Energy over the company’s practice of cutting trees. Nancy Vaughan is an at-large City Council member who helped write the ordinance draft.

"We were able to protect private property as well as public right of way," says Vaughan.

Study Shows How Trees Help CREATE Smog

Laura Candler — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:30:00 +0000

A new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has revealed exactly how trees play a role in smog production. The question has been a source of scientific uncertainty for years, and the findings are a milestone in air pollution research, with potentially significant implications for public health.

Greensboro Air Quality Improving, But Still Receives F-rating

Jeff Tiberii — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:37:17 +0000

The American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report is out, and it slots Greensboro as the 42nd most polluted metro area in the county. The city received an F-rating.

Laura-Kate Bender, who worked on the report, says the news wasn’t all bad.

"Despite getting an ‘F,' the area actually got its lowest overall number of smog days," she says. "So even though it received a failing grade, it’s a significant improvement over last year."