Environment
Sharp Budget Knife at Throat of SRFs
The Environmental Protection Agency’s water infrastructure congressional appropriations are destined to sink, maybe like stones, this year. Republicans and some Democrats want to severely cut the appropriations for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds in fiscal year 2011, which started last Oct. 1.
New guide helps municipalities monetize the value of green infrastructure
Quantifying the economic value of green infrastructure's benefits is the key to helping municipalities adopt this innovative and cost-effective stormwater management approach, according to a new report by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and American Rivers.
INGAA Locks Horns with PHMSA
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) has locked horns with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) over the agency's advisory bulletin on pipeline safety.
Expect Federal Funding Cuts, New Regs In 2011
The 2011 Congress will be one of the most unpredictable in many years, and probably one of the most explosive too, owing to the partisan friction occasioned by the Republican tide washing over both the House -- where the GOP took over -- and the Senate.
Delta plans to restore ecosystem via tunnel or canal
After meeting for four years and spending $140 million, the California Natural Resources Agency, U.S. Dept. of the Interior and our other agencies have released the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The document outlines two goals: restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem and building a pair of tunnels or canal to ferry its water elsewhere.
Tier 4 FAQ report published
Five leading off-road equipment industry associations have published a "frequently asked questions" (FAQ) report about Tier 4 technology – the next generation of clean diesel emissions standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the federal Clean Air Act. These standards apply to new diesel engines used in off-road equipment beginning in 2011.
INGAA releases white paper on pipeline energy efficiency
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) released a white paper, Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Efficiency, analyzing the achievements and challenges in connection with optimizing the energy efficiency of natural gas pipeline transportation.
EPA to fund California infrastructure improvements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced nearly $300 million in federal funding to improve aging water and wastewater infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for people in the state of California. This new infusion of money through infrastructure capitalization grants will help state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment throughout California.
Technology Report Released For Force Main Rehab
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report published earlier this year contains a wealth of information about rehabilitation technologies available for sewer force mains. The report, “State of Technology Report for Force Main Rehabilitation,” was prepared as part of the EPA’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Initiative. Here, the principal author of the report gives his summary of the contents.
EPA-Mandated PCB Removal Could Cost Billions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may require pipelines to severely reduce the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) throughout their systems, a move which would cost the industry tens, and potentially hundreds, of billions of dollars, according to the American Gas Association. Pamela F. Faggert, vice president and chief environmental officer, Dominion Resources Services, Inc., says the new regulatory measures the EPA is considering could cost her company alone a minimum of $300 million.
HDD: An Environmental Home Run
In just a few short decades, the use of horizontal directional drilling, as a method to install pipelines and utilities, has become common place. The advantages of HDD are two-fold. HDD has already saved billions if not trillions of dollars in bottom line construction costs.
Missouri DOT cited for construction stormwater violations
EPA Region 7 has issued a pair of administrative orders to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), citing multiple violations of stormwater permits that were issued for state construction projects along U.S. Highway 54 Expressway in Camden County, and U.S. Highway 67 in Wayne County.
EPA issues Clean Water, Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy with the goal of increasing the sustainability of water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States. Communities across the country are facing challenges in making costly upgrades and repairs to their aging water infrastructure, which include sewer systems and treatment facilities. The new policy is part of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's priority to protect America's waters.
Logistics Is Key During Pre-Design For Linear Pipeline
When faced with a project that is 133 miles long, spans two states and dozens of counties and features a tight schedule, logistics can be a serious foe. Communicating to many design team members and being responsive to the many challenges encountered in the field only complicate the efforts to successfully complete a project on time and on budget. Developing organizational and coordination skills into a serious strength and planning appropriately are paramount to operating efficiently, performing well and providing quality results.
Back To Reality
In this issue, Managing Editor Rita Tubb provides a round-up of oil, gas and product pipeline construction currently under way or projected around the world. It’s a reduced number, as expected, compared to recent years. However, it is a very realistic number as the “pipe-in-the-sky” projects that are inevitably thrown about during boom times have been dropped. The remaining projects are considered solid with a strong chance of coming to fruition. The numbers lead us to anticipate a reasonably healthy pipeline market going forward.
WaterWorks News: Water shortages, EPA proposes drinking water rule, RAMSCO buys Jones Water Supply
<a href="http://undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/waterworks-news-water-shortages-epa-proposes-drinking-water-rule-ramsco-buys-jones-water-supply#short">U.S. counties face water shortages due to climate change</a> <a href="http://undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/waterworks-news-water-shortages-epa-proposes-drinking-water-rule-ramsco-buys-jones-water-supply?page=3#epa"> EPA proposes updating drinking water rule to better protect public health </a> <a href="http://undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/waterworks-news-water-shortages-epa-proposes-drinking-water-rule-ramsco-buys-jones-water-supply?page=4#ramsco">Waterworks firm RAMSCO buys Binghamton rival</a> <a href="http://undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/waterworks-news-water-shortages-epa-proposes-drinking-water-rule-ramsco-buys-jones-water-supply?page=4#crisis">Using gravity to help solve the global water crisis</a>
Approvals For TransCanada Tar Sand Pipeline Gets Sticky; Plus PMHSA Low-Stress Tug-Of-War And FERC Posting Edict
Despite criticism of his company's proposed, nearly 2000-mile pipeline, Robert Jones, vice president, Keystone Pipelines, TransCanada Corporation, says he is very confident that the U.S. State Department will approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
EPA develops software to secure nation's water supply
Scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have collaborated in developing innovative water quality software that enhances a water system's ability to detect when there has been intentional or unintentional contamination. The Canary software can help detect a wide variety of chemical and biological contaminants, including pesticides, metals and pathogens. Once contamination is detected, a water utility can issue a "Do Not Drink" order to prevent customers from ingesting the water.
Wind energy primed for new growth
According to a report released in August by the U.S. Department of Energy and prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, despite grim predictions at the close of 2008, the U.S. wind power industry experienced another record year in 2009. At the same time, the report’s primary authors and scientist, Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger say the combination of the financial crisis and lower wholesale electricity prices has taken a toll on the wind power industry, dampening expectations for 2010.
Fracing Disclosure Main Concern In Senate Energy Bill; Incentives For NG Vehicles Included
The energy bill the Senate is to finally take up in September is primarily a "BP-response" bill. It contains none of the greenhouse gas emission reductions that Democrats had hoped to bring to a vote in a "Climate Change" bill, which is dead for this year. The Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010 focuses mostly on oil spill liability and response issues.
EPA Issues Clean Watershed Needs Report To Congress
The Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) 2008 Report to Congress summarizes the results of EPA's 15th national survey of capital costs to address water quality or water quality related public health problems. The U.S. EPA’s Off ice of Wastewater Management conducts the survey every four years, as required by the lean Water Act.
Vacuum excavators used to help clean Gulf of Mexico oil spill
Teams cleaning up after the oil spill in the Gulf have deployed a new tool to help with their efforts--McLaughlin vacuum excavators. Vacuum excavators are being deployed on barges into the Gulf and used to remove oil from the miles of skimmers located along the Gulf Coast.
New OSHA Administrator Talks Tough; BP Accident Imperils Offshore Gas Expansion
David Michaels, the new administrator of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is turning up the heat on industry, and critics of the agency under George W. Bush are pointing the Obama administrator toward the pipeline and underground construction industries.
Model Geothermal Installation Supports Habitat For Humanity Development
Hope Crossing, a suburban housing development in northeast Oklahoma City, may not look much different than other housing additions of attractive, moderately-priced homes, but it is unique. Hope Crossing is the largest “green” Habitat for Humanity housing development in the United States.
New EPA Regulations Will Require Machine Reconfiguring, Add Cost
In less than six months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Interim Tier 4 emission standards will go into effect for many types of off-road diesel powered equipment used in underground construction, and equipment owners and operators are devoting increasing attention to the changes they will bring.
New Holland Tier 4 Solutions
New Holland announced its solution to meet the Tier 4 interim emissions standards, which will be effective in 2011.
New Jobs Bill Has Infrastructure Funding Provision; pipeline safety issues crop up; GHG reporting
It looks like Congress will give cities and counties some new flexibility in funding drinking water and sewer projects. The Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010 (H.R. 4849) that passed in the House, 246 - 178 on March 24, has a provision which allows states to issue private activity bonds for water projects without counting the value of those bonds toward state caps.
New Congressional Inquiries On Hydraulic Fracturing
Congressional concern about "fracing" took another step forward when the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to eight companies asking for details on the chemicals they use during horizontal drilling of shale gas deposits. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the committee, implied in a memorandum to committee members that the "Big Three" of fracing may have violated a voluntary memorandum of agreement they signed with the EPA in 2005.
Underground Market Faces Tier 4 Equipment Adjustments In 2011
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Interim Tier 4 emission standards for off-road equipment powered by diesel engines of 175 to less than 750 horsepower will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. From that date through Tier 4’s final implementation in 2014, the equipment marketplace will begin to change for equipment manufacturers and dealers and their customers.
EVA Construction Rules In Effect; More Sewer/Water Stimulus Funds Coming?
The biggest issue for the underground construction industry in 2010 is not whether Congress and the Obama administration will unveil a second round of infrastructure spending, but whether that second helping of funds for sewers and drinking water systems will find its way into financial bloodstreams faster than the first injection did.
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds