Who would put out a landfill fire near Moody? That question consumed officials for weeks.
A private landfill near Moody smoldered for almost two months, inundating residents miles around with noxious smoke, before the EPA stepped in. Read more.
Science
No Water Contamination Found From Landfill Fire
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
This Swampy Paradise is Alabama’s Winter Haven for Sandhill Cranes
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.
What a Difference a Year Makes, but COVID’s Still Around
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.
Moody Landfill Fire Now a Federal Affair as EPA Is Called in to Extinguish Nuisance
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.
‘Is It Soup Yet?’: Engineer Submitting Plans for Putting Out Landfill Fire
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.
Lawsuit Filed Over Landfill Fire Near Moody Seeks Class Action Status
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.
Plan to Put Out Underground Landfill Fire in the Works
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
Officials Break Ground on a New $120 Million Cooper Green Facility
Health care leaders say the current building is more than 50 years old and too expensive to maintain. Read more.
In the Fight for Environmental Justice, Birmingham Tells Jackson to Stay Loud
Gulf States communities have been living in contaminated environments for years. Jackson and Birmingham residents share strategies that can help. Read more.