On Dec. 5, two scientists with the Forest Service’s Southern Research Station, including Assistant Director Kier Klepzig, received an agency award for their work to prevent attacks of the Southern pine beetle — a pest that’s responsible for annual losses estimated in the billions of dollars.
Six clean-energy protesters were arrested on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 1, in front of the Bank of America branch office on Patton Avenue. According to APD Lt. Stony Gonce, all were arrested for second-degree trespassing on the bank’s property during the event.
A property manager for Wells Fargo recently told local environmental groups that the bank would plant three young trees to replace the “Treasured Trees” it cut near its new sign on Patton Avenue. Meanwhile, the city and Asheville Greenworks are looking at some changes that could prevent cases like these from happening in the future.
Buncombe County officials want to inspire community members and local governments to make sustainable practices a priority, strengthening the local environment, community and economy. See within for a link to the draft plan, and a chance to comment.
Last Thursday, Nov. 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is providing loan guarantees to a series of projects to convert biomass to energy through USDA’s Rural Energy for America program. One of the award recipients is local and it’s led by Asheville Vice Mayor Brownie Newman.
It’s easy to get lost in a flurry of black Friday sales. Go green this year with a zipline tour to benefit a variety of environmental organizations.
There’s no shortage of green-friendly businesses in Asheville, and this year’s Environmental Excellence Awards spotlight some notable examples.
One final community meeting allows the public to learn more and provide feedback: Thursday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. Feedback on the draft plan must be submitted by Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. The draft plan is available online.
When white folks arrived on these shores, American chestnuts were the dominant tree from Georgia to Maine; then in the early 1900s, an imported disease virtually wiped them out — an estimated 4 billion trees. Now, thanks to the American Chestnut Foundation—and its genetic improvement program—the trees are positioned to make a comeback. Here, ACF President Bryan Burhans and Natural Landscape Crew Leader Tony Morrison pose with one of the newly planted, blight-resistant young trees.
Local activists reacted with guarded relief as the Obama administration this afternoon announced that it is requesting a 12- to 18-month review and delay on a decision regarding the Keystone XL pipeline. (photo by Bill Rhodes)
Environmental concerns are important to many Ashevillians, but how deeply has the green ethic permeated local leadership? Here’s what the six candidates vying for three seats on the City Council had to say. Photo by Susan Andrew.
The lone black bear cub found on the Western Carolina University campus on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 26, will spend time at a N.C. wildlife rehabilitation facility as part of an effort to eventually release it back into the wild.
Asheville-area citizens stand by their trees, as Shannon Tuch, assistant director at the city’s planning department, can confirm. When a contractor for the new Wells Fargo bank branch at Patton and Louisiana Avenues cut down the mature trees blocking the company’s new sign recently, Tuch started hearing “a lot of outrage from the community” regarding the cutting of a designated ‘Treasured Tree.’ Her office prepared a notice of violation tagged to a $2,900 fine against Wells Fargo — only to revoke it when the N.C. Department of Transportation got involved.
Buncombe County’s Environmental Advisory Board met Friday morning, Oct. 21, to consider the prospects for either reducing or banning the use of plastic shopping bags here, among other initiatives.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 18 to lease seven soccer fields at the Buncombe County Sports Park in Enka-Candler to the Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association.
In this edition of the Mountain Xpress’ local news podcast, Green Scene reporter Susan Andrew discusses the most recent developments at the former site of the CTS plant, including Buncombe County’s decision to postpone demolishing the existing structure and the EPA’s $6.5 million bill for cost incurred thus far.
In a letter dated September 13, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency has demanded payment of $6.5 million dollars to cover costs already incurred in its efforts to deal with contaminated ground water and soils near the former CTS of Asheville plant, located on Mills Gap Road in South Asheville. Meanwhile, Buncombe County Commissioners have postponed until November 1 their consideration of a decision to demolish the derelict building at taxpayer expense. Photo: Officials from EPA’s Superfund Branch stand at the gate to the CTS property during a recent sampling trip. Photo by Susan Andrew.
In a Sept. 13 letter to CTS Corporation and Mills Gap Road Associates, the Environmental Protection Agency demands that the companies pay about $6.5 million “for costs incurred to date.”
In this edition of the Mountain Xpress’ local news podcast, Green Scene reporter Susan Andrew discusses the Sustainable Shelter program at the NC Arboretum.
You thought your house was hot this summer — and now you’re bracing for another frigid winter? Consider the poor termite’s plight: On the tropical savannas of Africa and Australia, temperatures outside their earthen mounds soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit by day, then drop near freezing at night.
In an Oct. 6 letter to the Buncombe County Clerk, CTS property owner Mills Gap Road Associates appealed the county’s recent order that the building be demolished, saying that it would continue to cooperate with EPA. That agency is moving to place the property on the National Priorities List, a.k.a. Superfund, which would rank the Mills Gap site among the most contaminated properties in the nation.
