Among other actions, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 6 to levy a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to fund capital improvements at A-B Tech.
Tag: environment
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Buncombe County begins demolishing CTS building in Mills Gap
While area residents applaud the CTS building demolition as a positive step, resident Tate MacQueen argues that Buncombe taxpayers will be picking up a tab that should rightfully be paid by the company responsible for contaminating the site and nearby ground water.
Green Scene: The root of the problem
The Blue Ridge Mountains are known the world over for the quality and diversity of their plant life, particularly ornamentals and medicinal herbs. Harvesting these treasures has been a fixture of life here for centuries, but assorted experts at the recent Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Conference in Asheville said our forest products are […]
Forest Service honors two local scientists
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 arrested at clean energy protest in downtown Asheville
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.
Wells Fargo offers to replant ‘Treasured Trees’ cut on Patton Avenue; enviro groups want more
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 seeks public comment on draft sustainability plan
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.
Vice Mayor’s company receives $5 million loan for bioenergy installation at poultry producer
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.
Turn Black Friday green
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.
Cool green: Asheville GreenWorks’ annual Environmental Excellence Awards
There’s no shortage of green-friendly businesses in Asheville, and this year’s Environmental Excellence Awards spotlight some notable examples.
Public input sought by Buncombe County on its draft Sustainability Plan
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.
NC Arboretum reintroduces American chestnut to its grounds (blight resistant, this time)
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.
Obama delays Keystone XL oil pipeline; local activists react
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)
How green is your government? City Council candidates say, ‘We are!’
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.
Orphaned cub found at WCU will return to wild
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.
Wells Fargo on Patton removes “Treasured Tree” that blocked new sign
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 board considers ban of plastic shopping bags
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.
Buncombe Commissioners vote to lease soccer fields to ABYSA
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.
Local Matters: EPA’s $6.5 million bill for CTS
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.
EPA seeks action, demands CTS and current owners cover costs on proposed Superfund site in Mills Gap
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.
EPA demands $6.5 million for “costs incurred to date” at contaminated CTS site
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.”