Category: Environment
Severe Weather Expected Monday Morning, Area Schools Announce Plans
Birmingham and Jefferson County both sit in an area of enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) as of the 5:22 p.m. update from the National Weather Service Birmingham on Sunday evening.
Alabama Prepares for Severe Weather This Weekend
The severe weather threat for all 67 counties has led to a state of emergency declaration by Gov. Ivey and several events throughout the metropolitan area being canceled or rescheduled.
New Birmingham Office Aims to Prepare Before the Next Disaster Strikes
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina spurred the head of the city’s new Office of Sustainability and Resilience to look for ways to avoid such tragedies in the future.
City Considers Grant To Explore Solar Power
The city may apply for a federal grant to study opportunities for solar-energy projects. Read more.
A Place for Open Space: Residents Hear About Ordinance That Establishes Open Space Districts
City staffers briefed the public on three new planned districts for differing levels of parks and open spaces. Read more.
A Canopy of Protection: Initiative Plants Trees to Shield Urban Heat Islands
In the face of rising temperatures and enduring environmental inequities, Cool Green Trees is reshaping Birmingham’s urban landscape one tree at a time. Read more.
Catch It If You Can: New ‘Litter Gitter’ Installed to Capture Trash Before It Reaches Bayview Lake
Jefferson County installed its fifth device to collect trash from area waterways, this one on Village Creek to keep trash out of Bayview Lake. Read more.
EPA Formally Denies Alabama’s Plan for Coal Ash Waste
The federal agency says the state’s plan was not as protective as federal standards, allowing toxic waste to remain in unlined pits that may contaminate groundwater. Alabama officials say they will appeal. Read more.
Alabama Coal Company Sued for a Home Explosion That Killed a Man Is Delinquent on Dozens of Penalties, Records Show
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
Read more.
Birmingham Council Approves $421K in Tax Incentives for Japanese Restaurant
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved $421,833 in incentives for a planned Japanese restaurant in downtown Birmingham, and it changed landscaping, buffering and screening ordinances to increase landscaping requirements and protect trees, among other changes. Read more.
