EPA

Federal prosecutors are looking for nearly three years in prison for a former legislator who has admitted to taking bribes to fight environmental cleanup efforts in Birmingham.

Former state Rep. Oliver Robinson will be sentenced in federal court today. Court documents show prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 33 months in prison.

Prosecutors say that sends a message of deterrence but also reflects Robinson's "early acceptance of responsibility."

A prominent Alabama attorney and a coal company executive have been convicted on federal charges involving bribery of a state lawmaker.

The verdict against Joel Gilbert, a partner with Balch & Bingham law firm, and Drummond Company Vice President David Roberson was announced Friday after a four-week trial. Jurors found the two men guilty of conspiracy, bribery, three counts of honest services wire fraud and money laundering.

The state of Alabama is going under the microscope again in terms of civil rights policy.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's civil rights office says it will investigate the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's civil rights policies.

Al.com reports The EPA's External Civil Rights Compliance Office issued a letter earlier this week stating it will investigate whether ADEM has adopted grievance procedures assuring the prompt and fair resolution of complaints. These procedures are required by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

A former state representative in Birmingham has pled guilty to multiple charges in connection with an EPA Superfund site in the area.

Federal prosecutors are charging former Representative Oliver Robinson with conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and tax evasion. Prosecutors say Robinson took a contract with a private law firm in exchange with using his position in the state legislature to fight the expansion of an EPA Superfund site in Birmingham. The Superfund site is heavily contaminated with lead, arsenic, and other chemicals.

A business lobbyist and former environmental regulator from Alabama has been selected as the new regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overseeing eight Southeastern states.

Former Alabama Department of Environmental Management director Trey Glenn will be overseeing the work of the EPA in Alabama as well as Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North and South Carolina and Tennessee.

Attorneys generals from Georgia and Alabama have applauded a 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that overturned a regulation clamping down on power plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy air in neighboring states.

Alabama and Georgia joined with 13 other states in challenging the rule.

The EPA had adopted the rule in an attempt to cut down on downwind air pollution from power plants.