Environment

Western Tidewater farmers qualify for disaster aid

jeff.sheler — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:42:52 -0500

Farmers in Isle of Wight, Southampton, and Surry counties may be eligible for federal disaster relief due to excessive heat and drought last year. The counties were among 24 localities in the state designated this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as primary or contiguous disaster areas.

Surry, other counties designated drought disaster areas

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:54:43 -0500

RICHMOND The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared Craig, Frederick, Page and Surry counties as a primary disaster area because of damage caused by drought and excessive heat in 2011.

Prince George County received the designation because of damage caused by Hurricane Irene.

OBX access alliance files suit against parks service

Lee.Tolliver — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:59:36 -0500

The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance has filed a lawsuit that challenges the National Park Service's new management plan. It asks for an injunction to prevent the service from closing 26 of 67 miles of beach and will require weekly or annual permits to access parts of the beach that are open to vehicular traffic. The new rules are scheduled to take effect Wednesday.

Judge tosses case seeking rights for orcas

Cindy.Clayton — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:08:06 -0500

By Julie Watson SAN DIEGO An effort to free whales from SeaWorld by claiming they were enslaved made a splash in the news but flopped in court Wednesday.

A federal judge in San Diego dismissed an unprecedented lawsuit seeking to grant constitutional protection against slavery to a group of orcas that perform at SeaWorld parks, saying the 13th amendment applies only to humans.

N.C. offshore energy panel: Drilling prospects iffy

lauren.king — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:49:26 -0500

RALEIGH, N.C.

A science panel advising Gov. Beverly Perdue on offshore energy development says oil and gas drilling is unlikely in waters within North Carolina's authority, but the coast has some of the best East Coast locations for wind power.

Perdue's office on Wednesday released the report submitted to her office more than four months ago.

Va. oyster harvest up sharply in past decade

lauren.king — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:49:00 -0500

NEWPORT NEWS

Virginia's oyster harvest has grown tenfold in the past decade to 236,000 bushels in 2011 and a dockside value of $8.2 million, state officials announced Tuesday.

Gov. Bob McDonnell credited the rebound to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and its promotion of sanctuaries, targeted shell plantings in public oyster grounds and other measures.

Bodie Island, N.C., controlled burn continues today

Cindy.Clayton — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:59:36 -0500

BODIE ISLAND, N.C. A controlled burn will continue today in the Bodie Island District of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The burn will include about 662 acres west of N.C. 12 to north of the Bodie Island Lighthouse access road to south of the Navy Tower access road, according to a news release from the National Park Service. Both secondary access roads will be closed during the burn.

PETA lawsuit seeks slavery protections for animals

lauren.king — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:54:06 -0500

By Julie Watson SAN DIEGO A federal judge for the first time in U.S. history heard arguments Monday in a case that could determine whether animals enjoy the same constitutional protection against slavery as human beings.

U.S. House approves bill to expand Corolla horse herd

lauren.king — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:51:31 -0500

The U.S. House has approved a bill that would expand Corolla's wild horse herd to help maintain the herd's genetic viability.

Suffolk village of Hobson still thirsts for clean water

aimee.green — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:26:22 -0500

SUFFOLK

For years, residents of the rural village of Hobson have known their drinking water, drawn from an aging community well, did not meet state or federal health standards.