Regulatory
New York Loses Appeal to Block Millennium Natgas Pipeline
(Reuters) – A federal appeals court on Monday denied New York State’s petition to review orders from federal energy regulators that authorized Millennium Pipeline Co to build a natural gas line to a power plant in Orange County, New York. “We certainly disagree with the decision, and are reviewing ..
Trace of Mothballs Chemical Found in New York Agencies’ Water
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – State employees working in the Albany office building that’s the tallest in upstate New York are drinking bottled water after a chemical used in mothballs was detected in water samples. The Office of General Services says trace amounts of naphthalene were found in samples taken ..
FERC to Review Pipeline Policy Statement
New Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Kevin McIntyre’s announcement that the commission will review its 1999 pipeline policy statement comes in the wake of pressure from the Trump Administration to ease permitting of various infrastructure projects. President Trump issued an Aug. ..
ACEC Recognizes Contractor for Work on New York Natural Gas Pipeline
Ecology and Environment Engineering, P.C. (E & E) has been awarded the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) Platinum Engineering Excellence Award in the Environmental category. The prestigious award recognizes E & E’s pioneering work on Williams Gas Pipelines’ Rockaw..
Parts of National Forest Closed for Mountain Valley Construction
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it is closing parts of the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia and West Virginia through which the Mountain Valley Pipeline will run. The Roanoke Times reports the closure order “was enacted to protect public safety due to hazards associated with c..
Great Lakes Cities Work to Reduce Water Utility Emissions
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Several communities around the Great Lakes are competing to reduce pollution by controlling the electricity they consume from the power grid. Bayfield, Wisconsin, is one of five cities working to lower mercury and other emissions through the Water Utility Energy Challenge, Wisc..
Sewer, Water Projects in Southwestern Alabama to Receive Funding
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — A $315 million from the RESTORE Act and the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council will help fund projects in southwestern areas of the state. Fifty projects will be given funding for infrastructure, environmental restoration and economic development, Al.com reported. The biggest i..
More Flint Water Samples Show Elevated Lead Levels
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Recent water tests at elementary schools in Flint have found an increase in samples showing lead levels above the federal action limit. The Flint Journal reports the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality determined that 28 samples tested in February were above 15 parts pe..
Toxic Chemicals Found in Drinking Water near Detroit
DETROIT (AP) — Drinking water in three southeastern communities tested positive for contamination, according to state environmental officials. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality found perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in water in New Baltimore, Mount Clemen..
Mississippi Demands $100K From City Utilities Board Members
CANTON, Miss. (AP) — Officials say utility board members in a Mississippi city owe nearly $100,000 to the state auditor’s office after using public funds for personal use. The Clarion Ledger cites a Thursday statement from State Auditor Stacey Pickering as saying five members on the Canton Mu..
Five Cabinet Chiefs to Testify Before U.S. Senate on Infrastructure
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration will send five cabinet secretaries to a U.S. Senate hearing next week to tout its plan to spur $1.5 trillion infrastructure improvements using $200 billion in new federal funding. The heads of the Transportation, Commerce, Labor, Agriculture and Labor..
Virginia Governor Signs Utility Backed Legislation
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Ralph Northam has approved legislation that could lead to substantial new additions to most Virginians’ electric bills while making it easier for utilities to build renewable energy projects and improve the electric grid. Northam signed into law Friday legislation that was..
Iowa Regulators to Vote on Changes to Drinking Water Regulations this Month
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources today announced it will vote whether to approve changes in drinking water regulations at a public meeting on March 20, 2018. The proposed changes are designed to increase protection against bacteria in public systems that draw drinking water from groundwater..
Pennsylvania Regulators: Water Quality Not Affected by Manure Spill
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) – About 100,000 gallons of manure have spilled into two streams in Pennsylvania, killing fish in the area but not posing a threat to the water quality. LNP newspaper reports a manure storage facility failure at a farm in Sadsbury Township caused the spill Monday. The state Depar..
Governor Taps Ex-Prosecutor to Lead South Carolina Utility
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s governor has chosen a former top prosecutor to lead the board of state-owned utility Santee Cooper. Gov. Henry McMaster announced Wednesday he has picked former state Attorney General Charlie Condon to fulfill the rest of former chairman Leighton Lord’s ..
Easing Pressure on Louisiana Levees, Raising Environmental Worries
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When an 87-year-old flood control structure is opened northwest of New Orleans, it will lower the flood threat for that city, while raising environmental concerns. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will open part of the Bonnet Carre (BAHN’-eh CARE’-ee) Spillway on Thursday. That w..
Wisconsin Residents Voice Doubts About Lake Michigan Water for Foxconn
STURTEVANT, Wis. (AP) — Dozens of concerned residents and activists asked a Wisconsin agency on Wednesday to reject an application from the city of Racine to draw 7 million gallons of water daily from Lake Michigan for a proposed Foxconn plant. At a public hearing on the request in Sturtevant, many..
Report Shows No Toxins in Memphis Drinking Water Supply
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The public water supply in Memphis, Tennessee, is not affected by high levels of arsenic and other toxins found in monitoring wells at a coal-fired power plant, according to results of an investigation by the Tennessee Valley Authority released Wednesday. However, the re..
Pennsylvania Shuts Down Mariner East 1 Pipeline Because of Sinkhole
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – State regulators are temporarily shutting down a major pipeline after sinkholes in the Philadelphia suburbs exposed the 8-inch-diameter pipe, threatening nearby homes and a rail line. The Philadelphia Inquirer says the Public Utility Commission chairwoman ordered an immediate..
Mexico City: Water Cutoffs in Capital Worsened by Sabotage
MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico City officials say intentional sabotage may be contributing to recurrent water shortages that have caused protests on the streets of the city of 9 million people. In recent weeks, officials have blamed dry faucets in many neighborhoods on everything from power shortages..
12 Vermont Towns Agree to Form Internet Municipality
BERLIN, Vt. (AP) — Twelve Vermont towns have agreed to form a new communications district that will bring high speed internet services to the communities via fiber optic cables. Central Vermont Internet will bring publicly run high-speed interest to the member towns. The proposal to create the mun..
$22 Million Sewer and Water Project in New York City Ahead of Schedule
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection today announced a $21.8 million sewer and water infrastructure project in Southeast Queens is on track to be completed three months ahead of schedule. As part of the project, 4,100 feet of new storm sewers, some as large as nine-feet wide and..
Democrats Would Reverse Some Tax Cuts to Fund Infrastructure
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Senate Democrats, voting against the Republican tax cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law wasn’t opposition enough. Now they have a plan to reverse some of the tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest Americans and put the money instead toward a $1 trillion inf..
Ohio County Receives $3.5 Million for Water Projects
Muskingum County has received $3,507,000 from the Ohio EPA for two projects to extend public drinking water service to 124 residences and businesses in two rural areas in the county. The larger project will construct 66,000 feet of water lines and a 93-foot tall water tank in the Rix Mills area of ..
Mountain Valley Pipeline Construction Could Soon Start on Private Land in Virginia
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — Work on a natural gas pipeline in southwestern Virginia could soon begin on private land despite property owners’ objections. The Roanoke Times reports that a federal judge on Friday granted Mountain Valley Pipeline access to the areas. The company gained access through the laws..
New York Governor Orders Review Into Power Failures After Winter Storm Riley
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the New York State Department of Public Service to conduct a full review into power failures after Winter Storm Riley. Four days after Winter Storm Riley, while power has been restored to more than 280,000 New Yorkers, 74,790 customers still remain wi..
Minnesota Governor Updates Plan for Lowering Nitrate Levels in Water
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton has unveiled a revised measure to reduce elevated nitrate levels in water supplies and ensure more Minnesotans have safe drinking water. Dayton and Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson announced the proposal Tuesday after holding 17 public meetings atte..
Great Lakes Advocates to Ask Congress for Water Protections
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) – A coalition of Great Lakes advocates is urging Congress to provide funds for cleaning up the region’s waters and strengthening its water infrastructure. Groups representing businesses, industry, environmentalists, cities, states and tribes will make their annual lobbying..
Pennsylvania DEP Sanctions Eurofins QC Lab for Water Testing Violations
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will collect a $600,000 penalty from Eurofins, QC (EQC), for violations related to falsified and mishandled discharge water tests and results at their lab in Southampton, Pennsylvania. “DEP relies on accredited, third-party laboratories ..
Corps Recommends Opening Spillway to Divert Mississippi
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A flood control structure upriver from New Orleans will likely be opened Thursday to keep pressure off the levee system that protects the city, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official said. Col. Mike Clancy, commander of the Corps’ New Orleans district, told reporters Monda..
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- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico