Testing of water around the environmental landfill fire burning underground in Moody shows no contamination from the fire, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management reported last week. ADEM conducted instream water quality sampling at four locations, upstream and downstream of the fire in Big Black Creek and the Cahaba River, according to a press release
As many as 25,000 sandhill cranes migrate to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge every winter, along with a handful of highly endangered whooping cranes. Read more.
One year ago, Alabama was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the state’s peak, on Jan 21, 2022, the 7-day average of new COVID cases per day was 12,918, according to the New York Times’ COVID tracker. The year before, in February, 2021, deaths hit their high with an average of 147 Alabamians a day succumbing to the disease. This week, as of Wednesday, Jan. 18, the 7-day average of new cases per day statewide was 963, and the daily average of deaths was 3.1 on Thursday. Despite the steep drop, health officials have urged people to remain vigilant, keep up with their vaccinations and mask if their community is at risk of COVID or if they are at heightened risk from the virus. Read more.
The landfill fire in Moody is now a federal affair. At the request of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will lead the effort to put out the underground fire at a privately operated vegetative waste disposal site near Moody in St. Clair County, the agency said in a press release Wednesday. Read more.
Dan Dahlke was reminded of a 1970s TV commercial when he was asked about his submission to Gov. Kay Ivey to put out the months-long smoldering landfill fire in Moody. “Is it soup yet?” “It's getting there,” the St. Clair County engineer said Friday. “I've sent stuff over to the county attorney and I think he's putting it all together and trying to figure out exactly who we need to send this to (in) the governor's office. “When he finds that, we'll probably shoot this off to whoever this afternoon.” Dahlke has received proposals from a number of contractors with varied ideas for dealing with the fire that has been burning for about two months and irritating residents as far as 30 miles away. Residents have been complaining not just about the smell and the smoke, but about health effects such as asthma, coughing and nausea. Read more.
A pair of Trussville residents have filed a lawsuit over the landfill fire that’s been burning for almost two months near Moody. The suit alleges, among other claims, the owners and operators of Environmental Landfill Inc. have been negligent and calls for compensatory and punitive damages. Read more.
Dan Dahlke is preparing a package to send to Montgomery that he hopes contains the cure to what ails residents who have suffered from the smoke of a Moody landfill fire that’s been smoldering since November. “This has gone on way too long already,” said Dahlke, the St. Clair County engineer. “That's sort of my feeling but, regardless of that, I want to make sure whatever we send to the state, I want to feel as positive as I can be that we're not gonna create a bigger problem.” Speaking with BirminghamWatch on Wednesday, Dahlke said he is still awaiting some information and getting things together to send to state officials. He hopes to have the plans together by the end of the week to send to the state. Read more. Related: Lawsuit Filed Over Landfill Fire Near Moody Seeks Class Action Status
Health care leaders say the current building is more than 50 years old and too expensive to maintain. Read more.
Gulf States communities have been living in contaminated environments for years. Jackson and Birmingham residents share strategies that can help. Read more.
In an emergency meeting Tuesday, the St. Clair County Commission declared a state of emergency to deal with the underground landfill fire that’s been smoldering for more than a month, annoying and aggravating residents from as far as 30 miles away. The commission action put wheels in motion for a plan to put out the fire at the environmental landfill in Moody and seek funds through the state to pay for it. Fighting the fire is complicated by the fire burning underground and then breaking through at multiple locations on the surface. A packed commission chamber saw the panel go into executive session to be briefed on possible litigation that could come as a result of the action. After 15 minutes away from the crowd and then instruction from County Attorney Jim Hill, the commission unanimously approved the resolution to address the matter. Read more.
