Legal
Florida Gas wins appeal over PHMSA pipeline enforcement order
A federal appeals court vacated PHMSA’s enforcement order against Florida Gas Transmission, ruling the agency acted arbitrarily and failed to provide fair notice in a pipeline rupture case.
Industry coalition targets EPA veto authority over infrastructure permits
A new industry coalition is urging the Trump administration to limit EPA veto authority tied to federally permitted energy and infrastructure projects.
Court halts some Line 5 construction tied to waterway permits
A Wisconsin judge has halted portions of Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute project tied to several waterway crossings, while allowing most construction on the controversial pipeline relocation to continue.
Contractor challenges $100-million irrigation tunnel project award in federal lawsuit
A contractor has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the procurement process behind a more than $100-million irrigation tunnel rehabilitation project tied to the Fort Laramie Canal system in Wyoming and Nebraska.
Lawsuits follow 2.9-million-gallon sewer spill tied to California wastewater system
Dozens of residents have filed lawsuits following a 2.9-million-gallon California sewer spill, alleging years of inadequate maintenance and aging wastewater infrastructure contributed to the force main failure.
Court clears path for MVP Southgate pipeline construction in Virginia, North Carolina
A federal appeals court denied motions to halt water permits for the MVP Southgate pipeline, allowing construction to proceed while legal challenges continue.
DOJ sues D.C. Water over Potomac interceptor failure, sewage spill
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a Clean Water Act complaint against D.C. Water following a sewer pipeline failure that released more than 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Potomac River.
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.
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- OSHA investigates fatal trench collapse at Conroe construction site
- Final Lake Erie sewer tunnel project set to begin after decades-long $3 billion effort
- Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
- Fiber drilling strike triggers major sewer failure, lawsuits in Florida
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
- Race Communications breaks ground on Bakersfield fiber network
- Final Lake Erie sewer tunnel project set to begin after decades-long $3 billion effort
- Inside Infrastructure: Utility locators warn of systemic failures in damage prevention process