Environment

Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 1:33pm

Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

While hurricane season is still two weeks away in the Atlantic, Wednesday is the start of hurricane season in the eastern Pacific.

On average, more storms will form in the Pacific basin, but rarely make landfall. The ocean waters off the west coast are far to cold to sustain a hurricane, which requires sea surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees.

Additionally, the trade winds usually carry the storms westward, away from the coast. Rarely, storms can recurve back toward the coastline and make landfall along Baja California. Occasionally, they can bring heavy rain to southern California, but by then have lost their tropical characteristics.

Forecasters expect an average to below-normal year in terms of cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific.

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The feud is over: Alcoa and Stanly County reach agreement

Submitted by David Whisenant

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, 4:45pm

The feud is over: Alcoa and Stanly County reach agreement

ALBEMARLE - After spending several years and thousands of dollars opposing the corporate giant, officials in Stanly County now say they will no longer fight Alcoa's efforts to be re-licensed to run a series of hydroelectric dams on the Yadkin River.

The 3-2 vote came Monday night in Albemarle after Alcoa presented a new settlement plan that some say will have a wide ranging impact.

"The timing was right for both the county and Alcoa and that we can work together to build the partnership and move forward to the betterment of the citizens," Stanly County Manager Andy Lucas told WBTV.

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AAA Carolinas hosts annual Great Fall Battery Roundup

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Monday, October 15th, 2012, 2:07pm

AAA Carolinas hosts annual Great Fall Battery Roundup

AAA Carolinas will host its annual Great Fall Battery Roundup, a used battery collection and recycling program, as part of Car Care Month in October. It is available to the general public, as well as AAA members.

North Carolina motorists can receive $5 for every auto or marine battery they bring in to any one of 24 AAA Car Care Centers, or 34 Approved Auto Repair shops from October 16 through the 31.

“Improperly disposed batteries do serious harm to our environment,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “This program is a win-win for everyone including motorists, AAA, battery recycle centers and the environment at large.”

AAA encourages residents to help fight stream and ground pollution and raise awareness by recycling batteries at one of 58 convenient North Carolina locations.

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Smoke from wildfire no longer producing elevated levels of air pollution

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Monday, June 25th, 2012, 11:27am

NORTH CAROLINA - State air quality officials say smoke from a wildfire in eastern North Carolina is no longer generating elevated concentrations of air pollution, thanks to firefighting efforts and heavy rainfall during the weekend.

For the past seven days, monitors had detected elevated concentrations of particle pollution in parts of eastern North Carolina due to smoke from the Dad Fire, which began June 17 in the Croatan National Forest. Smoke from wildfires can create extremely small particles and liquid droplets that can be harmful to breathe and contribute to haze and other air quality problems.

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Morrow Mountain State Park to conduct control burn

Submitted by Alison Hill, Community Web Producer

Thursday, December 29th, 2011, 11:41am

Morrow Mountain State Park to conduct control burn

STANLY COUNTY (NC Department of Environment and Natrual Resources) - The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation will conduct a prescribed burn at Morrow Mountain State Park in Stanly County between Jan. 4 and Jan. 13, when conditions are suitable, according to Park Superintendent Jason Gwinn.

The burn will be conducted on 600 acres near the park’s northern boundary and adjoining Alcoa property. Some areas of the park, including portions of the Fall Mountain Trail and the bridle trail, will be closed to the public during the event.

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Yadkin Riverkeeper challenges Alcoa's claim of river bed ownership

Submitted by Nick Needham on Tuesday, December 13th, 11:01 am

WINSTON-SALEM - The Yadkin Riverkeeper submitted a request Tuesday in a state administrative court requesting a declaratory ruling to determine the true ownership of the Yadkin River bed in Stanly County in order to protect the state's interest from Alcoa Power Generating, Inc..

Yadkin Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks said based on recent uncovered deeds, the N.C. Department of Administration is overdue in challenging Alcoa’s assertions of ownership of the Yadkin riverbed; and that citizens of North Carolina are the rightful owners of the river itself as a Public Trust Resource, according to a news release from the Riverkeeper's office.

Naujoks said these deeds suggest that the State of North Carolina may be entitled to request additional payments from the owner of the deeds.

In its investigation, attorneys for the Yadkin Riverkeeper uncovered a series of five land grants filed with the Register of Deeds of Stanly County dating back to 1899.

The grants w

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