Legal
Tribe challenges Utah groundwater and pipeline project over water rights concerns
The Indian Peaks Band has appealed federal approval of a Utah groundwater and pipeline project, arguing it threatens Tribal water rights and cultural resources.
Supreme Court lets Line 5 case proceed, keeps pipeline dispute alive
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Michigan’s challenge to Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, allowing the long-running legal dispute to proceed in lower courts.
California water pipeline project remains stalled in Kings County court battle
A 48-inch underground water pipeline project in Kings County, California, remains stalled as ongoing legal disputes and a CEQA lawsuit continue to delay construction and infrastructure development.
NIPSCO fined $463,000 for failing to properly locate underground pipelines
Indiana regulators fined NIPSCO $463,000 after investigators found the utility failed to properly locate underground pipelines in response to Indiana 811 excavation requests, violating state pipeline safety regulations.
Iroquois pipeline expansion clears court hurdle in Connecticut
A Connecticut judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Iroquois Gas Transmission pipeline expansion in Brookfield, allowing state regulators to continue reviewing permits for new compressor stations that would increase regional gas capacity.
Judge finalizes $345-million judgment against Greenpeace in Dakota Access Pipeline case
A North Dakota judge has finalized a $345 million judgment against Greenpeace in a lawsuit brought by Energy Transfer over protests tied to construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Michigan, Enbridge clash over Line 5 pipeline jurisdiction before U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a key jurisdictional dispute between Michigan and Enbridge over the future of the Line 5 pipeline, a case that could shape state authority over major energy infrastructure and determine where the shutdown fight moves forward.
Wisconsin judge upholds state permits for Enbridge’s 41-mile Line 5 relocation
A Wisconsin administrative law judge upheld DNR wetland, waterway and water quality permits for Enbridge’s 41-mile Line 5 relocation in northern Wisconsin, clearing a key hurdle for the large-scale underground pipeline project.
SCWA sues Riverhead over $35 million North Fork water pipeline project
The Suffolk County Water Authority has filed suit against Riverhead over zoning authority tied to its North Fork Water Main Project, a 12-mile pipeline aimed at improving regional water reliability.
Pipeline construction damage claims targeted in new Iowa landowner protection bill
An Iowa House bill would expand landowner rights to seek compensation for crop loss, soil damage and other impacts from pipeline construction, allowing renegotiation of claims and new complaint pathways through regulators and courts.
Saskatchewan excavation firm pleads guilty in trench collapse case
A Saskatchewan excavation contractor pleaded guilty to occupational health and safety violations after a trench collapse seriously injured a worker near North Battleford.
Charleston Water settles West Ashley sewer overflow case
Charleston Water System has agreed to accelerated sewer repairs, public overflow alerts and homeowner assistance as part of a settlement addressing sanitary sewer overflows in West Ashley.
Judge extends deadline in federal funding battle over Gateway tunnel construction
A federal judge has given the U.S. government more time to release billions in funding for the Hudson River Gateway tunnel project, as officials warn construction could halt and jobs be lost if financing for the critical interstate rail tunnel remains frozen.
N.Y. lawmakers propose pipeline mapping rules for leak-prone gas lines
New York lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require gas utilities to map and disclose planned work on leak-prone pipelines, potentially reshaping how aging distribution systems are regulated.
Gateway sues federal government as Hudson Tunnel funding freeze threatens construction halt
The Gateway Development Commission has filed suit against the federal government, warning that withheld funding could force a halt to construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project — putting thousands of jobs and one of North America’s largest active tunneling programs at risk.
Appeals court blocks California’s bond plan for Delta water tunnel
A California appeals court ruled the state lacks authority to issue bonds for the Delta Conveyance Project, forcing officials to reconsider how the water tunnel will be financed.
Pennsylvania DEP rejects $53 million Connoquenessing Township sewer plan
Pennsylvania DEP has rejected Connoquenessing Township’s $53 million Act 537 sewage facilities plan, citing technical deficiencies, affordability concerns, and regulatory compliance issues.
Enbridge to pay $2.8 million over Line 3 aquifer breach in Minnesota
Enbridge has agreed to a $2.8 million settlement with Minnesota regulators after construction of the Line 3 pipeline pierced a groundwater aquifer, causing ongoing groundwater flow near Aitkin County. The agreement includes penalties, monitoring, and funding for environmental restoration work as agencies continue managing impacts on surrounding wetlands.
Judge clears distribution of $626 million Flint water crisis settlement funds
A federal judge has approved the distribution of the $626-million Flint water crisis settlement, clearing the way for payments to more than 26,000 claimants more than a decade after the crisis began. While the ruling marks a major milestone, some residents remain cautious as the first payouts get underway.
N.J. contractor seeks to pause bidding on Gateway Tunnel viaduct contract
A major New Jersey contractor is asking a federal judge to halt bidding on a key Gateway Tunnel viaduct contract, arguing that the project’s labor agreement unfairly blocks its participation. The challenge adds another layer of uncertainty to the $16 billion rail program as federal reviews and funding delays continue.
Alberta excavating firm fined $100,000 after trench collapse injures worker
HCL Site Services Ltd. of Vegreville, Alberta, was fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to an Occupational Health and Safety violation following a 2022 trench collapse that seriously injured a worker on a sewer line project in Viking.
Nevada congresswoman questions dropped fines for Boring Co. after firefighter injuries in Las Vegas
Rep. Dina Titus has asked Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo to explain why his administration dropped a $425,000 fine against The Boring Co. after firefighters were injured during a Las Vegas tunnel training incident.
Court rejects Green River pipeline plan to move Utah water to Colorado
The Utah Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a plan to export 55,000 acre-feet of Green River water to Colorado, ruling that the developer failed to prove the water could be put to beneficial use outside Utah.
Iowa counties petition U.S. Supreme Court over pipeline safety authority
Story and Shelby counties in Iowa have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review their case challenging federal preemption of local pipeline safety ordinances — the latest development in a multiyear legal dispute involving Summit Carbon Solutions and its planned carbon sequestration pipeline across the state.
Thornton restarts construction on disputed 70-mile northern Colo. water pipeline
Thornton, Colorado has resumed construction on its 70-mile water pipeline after years of legal disputes. The project, among the state’s largest infrastructure efforts, will connect Poudre River water rights to a new treatment facility and is slated for completion in 2028.
Inspectors charged with faking gas pipeline safety tests in New York
Two inspectors have been charged with wire fraud for allegedly faking hundreds of gas pipeline safety tests in New York City and Westchester County. Prosecutors say the fraudulent inspections put public safety at risk.
Toronto landscaper pleads guilty in striking Enbridge gas pipeline
Ontario-based Orin Landscaping Inc. has pleaded guilty to striking and damaging a natural gas pipeline operated by Enbridge. This marks the second guilty plea this year for pipeline strikes in Ontario. The company was found guilty of an offence under Ontario Regulation 210/01 of the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.
Louisiana contractor loses license over repeated water main failures, boil advisories
Louisiana regulators revoked the license of JLJ Construction, a longtime New Orleans contractor, after linking the firm to repeated water main failures and boil advisories costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ohio Supreme Court rules sewer line location isn’t a ‘defect’ in property dispute
For underground infrastructure professionals, the case highlights the legal boundaries of disclosure related to buried utilities.
Texas House approves bill to strengthen state's water infrastructure
The Texas House gave initial approval to Senate Bill 7 on Monday, May 26, which if passed, would add $1 billion per year to the Texas Water Fund. Texas Governor Greg Abbott named the bill one of his seven emergency items for the legislative session, citing drought concerns in the state.
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- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- LA recovery reports call for $650 million power line burial, major utility upgrades in Pacific Palisades
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- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion