Regulatory
Alabama Company Gets Federal Grant to Expand Broadband
HAMILTON, Ala. (AP) — Communications company Tombigbee has received a $3 million federal grant to expand broadband internet access to a rural community in northwest Alabama, the company’s president announced Thursday. Tombigbee Communications CEO and President Steve Foshee announced the grant from ..
$15 Million Awarded for Texas Sewer, Water Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has awarded more than $15 million from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds for water and wastewater pipeline projects across the state. The projects receiving funding include: $10.77 million to the city of Elmendorf. The city will use ..
API Names New CEO
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has elected Mike Sommers President and CEO. Sommers will succeed Jack Gerard, who is stepping down in August. Known for bipartisan collaboration and visionary strategic planning, Sommers brings two decades of political experience to API, including his current r..
Baltimore to Get $11M Loan to Help Sewer Infrastructure
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore will get an $11 million loan to help keep its sanitary sewers from releasing untreated sewage. The Maryland Board of Public Works approved the project Wednesday. The funds will be used for the planning, design and construction of improvements to the city’s sewer infrastru..
Arizona Utility Tries to End Multi-State Colorado River Feud
DENVER (AP) — Arizona’s largest water provider tried Tuesday to defuse a multi-state dispute over the Colorado River, saying it regretted the belligerent-sounding words it used to describe its management strategy for the critical, over-used waterway. The Central Arizona Project, which provides wate..
ACWA Spring Conference to Highlight Improving California’s Water Supply
Leaders, experts and elected officials from throughout California’s water community will gather in Sacramento May 8-11 for the Association of California Water Agencies’ (ACWA) 2018 Spring Conference & Exhibition. Themed “CA Water: Building for the Future,” the first of two biannual ACWA conferences..
West Virginia American Water Seeks Rate Increase to Cover Infrastructure Upgrades
West Virginia American Water filed an application with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) to adjust its rates for water and wastewater service. The company is seeking a base water rate increase to produce additional revenues of $32.69 million per year, and an increase in wastewater..
New York City Sewer Project to Be Completed Ahead of Schedule
According to representatives from the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), a $12.7 million infrastructure project addressing stormwater runoff from the highest neighborhood in Queens will be completed a month ah..
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Constitution Pipeline over New York Permit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dealt another setback to a proposed natural gas pipeline running from Pennsylvania to New York, rejecting Constitution Pipeline Co’s bid to challenge New York state’s refusal to issue a needed water permit for the project. The high court left ..
Professor Gets EPA Grant for More Lead-in-Water Research
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — A Virginia Tech professor who helped expose the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is getting a nearly $2 million federal grant for further research into lead contamination. The Roanoke Times reports the three-year grant from the Environmental Protection Agency will help Marc Edwa..
Report: Pipelines Helping America's Environment
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) has released “Increased Environmental Benefits from Pipelines & Energy Development for Nation and New York,” a report highlighting improvements in air quality that have been made possible by the shale energy revolution and America’s safe and reliable pipeline network. ..
Group to Sue New Jersey Town over Lead in Water
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — An environmental group has filed a notice of its intent to sue the city of Newark over what it says are elevated levels of lead in the city’s drinking water. The Natural Resources Defense Council has 60 days to file a lawsuit. In its notice filed this week, the group cited a fe..
Chemical Not Found in Treated Water in West Virginia, Ohio
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says a little-studied chemical compound has not been found in treated drinking water that came from contaminated wells in Ohio and West Virginia. The Parkersburg News & Sentinel reports the agency had requested Chemours to test the..
California Town, Water District Fined for Sewer Spills Into Bay
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the city of Oakland and a water district are being fined $350,000 for allegedly allowing sewage water to flow into the San Francisco Bay. The EPA says in a statement Tuesday that Oakland will have to pay more than $220,000 in ..
Washington Regulators Host Hearing on Avista, Hydro One Merger
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Customers of Avista Corp. told the state Utilities and Transportation Commission they’re happy with their local electric and natural gas utility and see little benefit from its sale to a Canadian corporation. About 80 people attended a public hearing in Spokane Monday on..
Pennsylvania Regulators Suspend Laboratory's Accreditation for Water Testing Violations
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has suspended the laboratory accreditation of Analytical Laboratory Services, Inc.’s Middletown facility (ALS-Middletown) for continued violations relating to the handling and reporting of Safe Drinking Water compliance samples. As a resu..
Indiana Utility Reaches Deal for 15 Percent Gas Rate Increase
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — The natural gas utility company for most of northern Indiana could increase its rates by about 15 percent under a deal it has reached with the state consumer advocate’s office. The proposed increase for Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. would be smalle..
Eyeglass Lens Maker Fined $750K for Illegal Sewer Discharges
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has fined an eyeglass lens manufacturer $750,000 for repeatedly discharging hazardous waste into Clackamas County’s sewer system in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon fined Carl ..
Western Arizona Eyed as Water Source for Major Metro Areas
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A week into her appointment last fall as a Mohave County supervisor in western Arizona, Lois Wakimoto heard the words that would consume her since: We have a water problem. The entity that sends Colorado River water throughout Arizona wants to buy farmland in her district th..
Workers Admit Taking Bribes to Lower Water, Sewer Bills
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Two municipal water department workers have admitted taking bribes in return for reducing the water and sewer bills of numerous customers. Joseph DeBonis and William Ortiz both pleaded guilty Friday to official misconduct. Both had been suspended from their jobs with the ..
Ohio County Receives Sewer Collection System Funding
The Ohio EPA is providing a $236,500 loan to Morrow County for the design of a centralized sewer collection system for the Iberia area. With the assistance, the county plans to construct a centralized sewer collection system to replace failing on-site systems along State Route 309. The design will ..
New York Sending More Utility Workers to Puerto Rico Power Restoration Efforts
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s governor is heading back to Puerto Rico with more help as the island continues to recover from last year’s catastrophic hurricane. Democrat Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the state is sending another team of utility experts to assist with repairs to Puerto Rico’..
Feud Erupts Between Utility, States over Colorado River
DENVER (AP) — Tension over the drought-stressed Colorado River escalated into a public feud when four U.S. states accused Arizona’s largest water provider of manipulating supply and demand, potentially threatening millions of people in the United States and Mexico who rely on the river. The four st..
Hawaii Lawmakers Provide $125M for Flood Repairs
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers are appropriating $125 million to help with flood relief efforts on Kauai and elsewhere in the state. House and Senate leaders said Wednesday the money would support road, bridge and infrastructure repairs. Rescuers and volunteers used jet skis and helicopters to e..
Former Water Superintendent Charged with Taking $300K
ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former water department superintendent in Tennessee has been charged with using the position to steal more than $300,000 from the department. A Hawkins County grand jury this week indicted 49-year-old Shawn Hatchett, who is the former superintendent of the Rogersvi..
Air Force to Buy Water, Help with Filters for Colorado Towns
reported Wednesday the Air Force will purchase clean drinking water and pay for operating and maintaining filter systems. ..
Coalition Works to Expand Rural Broadband
A coalition of stakeholders committed to the expansion of broadband services in rural America today launched the first in a series of workshops to focus attention on the wide-ranging challenges to achieving connectivity, and the opportunities improved e-connectivity could bring to the people and eco..
API, Union Establish Pipeline Construction Safety Training Program
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have established a Pipeline Construction Safety Training Program. This landmark program will combine the best practices of both the building trades unions and the natural gas and oil industry into a foundationa..
Flint Water Group on Hold Due to Spat Between Mayor, State's Governor
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A group that regularly meets in Flint to discuss the city’s recovery from contaminated water is caught in a spat between the mayor and Gov. Rick Snyder. Snyder canceled a Friday meeting of the Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee after Mayor Karen Weaver threatened to ..
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- West Virginia approves $67 million for water, sewer projects