Regulatory
High Court: Feds Can Intervene in Texas-New Mexico Water Fight
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A lawsuit pitting Texas against New Mexico and Colorado over access to water from the Rio Grande must be sent back to an arbitrator, also known as a special master, to resolve the dispute, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday. Justice Neil Gorsuch noted the federal governmen..
Construction Contract Awarded for Fiber-Optic Network in Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has awarded MuniNet Fiber Agency a contract to construct part of the KentuckyWired fiber-optic cable project in Caldwell, Muhlenberg and Hopkins counties. Under the terms of the contract, MuniNet will build approximately 66 miles of the 3,400-mile ultra-high speed cable..
Pennsylvania DEP Issues Permits for Construction of New Natural Gas, Water Lines
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced it has awarded to Birdsboro Power LLC, DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC, and the Reading Area Water Authority the permits necessary for the construction of a 450 mega-watt natural gas fired Birdsboro Power electrical generati..
Nearly $17 Million Awarded for Water Projects in Texas
The Texas Water Development Board today approved more than $16 million in financial assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the following construction projects: $3.56 million to the city of Lawn. The city will use the assistance to cons..
Trump EPA Moves to Roll Back More Clean Air and Water Rules
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration said Thursday it is rewriting Obama-era rules governing pollution from oil and gas operations and coal ash dumps, moves that opponents say will significantly weaken protections for human health and the environment. The changes proposed by the Environmental..
API Supports EPA Decision to Roll Back Obama-Era Clean Air Standards
The American Petroleum Institute (API) today released the following statement in support of the EPA’s amendments to its oil and gas air emissions standards and the proposed withdrawal of EPA’s 2016 emissions guidance (Control Technique Guidelines). “We welcome EPA’s technical modifications to its N..
HDD Activities OK’d at Another Nexus Gas Transmission Site
FERC has approved Enbridge’s request to move ahead with construction at the Tuscarawas River horizontal directional drill (HDD) site associated with the Nexus Gas Transmission Pipeline. Last month, the commission approved HDD construction activities at the following 11 sites along the project: W..
Public Hearing Set in Ohio Concerning Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Changes
Ohio EPA today announced it will hold a public hearing on March 6, 2018 concerning proposed changes to lead and copper rules for public water systems. These changes incorporate a new law that ensures homeowners get the timely public notice they deserve whenever high levels of lead are found in drink..
New York Awards Nearly $226 Million for Broadband Projects
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $225.5 million in NY Broadband Program Round III grants have been awarded to communities throughout the state. The awards will drive $385.5 million in broadband infrastructure and support connections for nearly 129,000 locations and were awarded as p..
New York Approves New Drinking Water Treatment Technology
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the State’s Department of Health has conditionally approved New York’s first use of a technology known as Advanced Oxidative Process (AOP) to remove 1,4-dioxane from drinking water. This approval was given to the Suffolk County Water Authority t..
Water Districts Challenge Judge in Navajo Settlement
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Water districts in northern New Mexico sought to disqualify a state judge Tuesday and overturn a major settlement with the Navajo Nation in a simmering dispute about rights to water from the San Juan River. A motion filed with the New Mexico state Court of Appeals seeks to dis..
Maine City to Receive Nearly $9M for Sewer Upgrades
BATH, Maine (AP) — A Maine city is slated to receive nearly $9 million in federal money for sorely needed upgrades to its sewer system. The city of Bath is getting a $2.3 million grant and a $6.5 million low interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The city’s sewer department serves m..
Air Quality Permit Issued for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A proposed pipeline to bring fracked natural gas from West Virginia to points east and south has won another North Carolina state permit. The Department of Environmental Quality issued Tuesday an air quality permit to Atlantic Coast Pipeline developers for a Northampton County ..
Kentucky Water District Gets $3.4 Million Project to Solve Supply Issues
U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) and Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin today announced a $3.4 million project to alleviate water supply issues within the Martin County Water District. The project will help secure clean water for the people of Martin County and will be administered by the Kentucky D..
New Filtration System Lowers Contamination in Delaware Town's Water
DOVER, Del. (AP) — State environmental officials say residents of a southern Delaware town where high levels of toxic chemicals were discovered in municipal wells can resume using the water for drinking and cooking. Officials said Thursday that a new carbon filtration system in the town of Blades h..
Wyoming Joins Iowa, Ohio In Anti-Pipeline Protest Legislation
Wyoming has become the third state to introduce a bill targeting pipeline protests, envisaging penalties of up to 10 years in prison for “impeding critical infrastructure” and up to US$1 million in fines for any organization that “aids, abets, solicits, encourages, hires, conspires, commands or proc..
Infrastructure Funding is Next Big Legislative Target
Having passed and signed a major tax reform bill at the end of 2017, the Trump Administration and Congress move on to their next big legislative target in 2018: infrastructure spending. While sewer and drinking water projects may receive additional federal funding as a result, that is not certain. I..
Public Hearings Concerning Wastewater Discharge Permit Scheduled in Iowa
Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced they will hold three public hearings in March concerning a new general permit that addresses wastewater discharges to Iowa soils and streams. At the meetings, the latest information about the new proposed requirement, a National Pollutant..
Wisconsin Governor Signs Bill to Cover Lead Pipe Replacement
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill designed to help Wisconsin homeowners cover the cost of replacing lead pipes. The measure would allow public water utilities and local governments to provide grants, loans or both to property owners to help them replace portions of lead water..
Minnesota Governor Pushes Public Works Package for Water Quality Efforts
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton is doubling down on his call to fund hundreds of millions of dollars in water infrastructure projects. That funding is an integral part of the Democratic governor’s $1.5 billion package of public works construction. But Dayton and other public officials said ..
Plumber Gets Probation in Trench Collapse that Killed Worker
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pennsylvania plumber who pleaded guilty to violating federal workplace regulations before a trench collapse that killed a man has been placed on probation for two years. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that 67-year-old Wayne George, of Hookstown, apologized in court Wednesda..
Some Fear California Drought Cuts Could Erase Water Rights
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A proposal to make California’s drought-era water restrictions permanent could allow the state to chip away at long-held water rights in an unprecedented power grab, representatives from water districts and other users told regulators Tuesday. Members of the state Wa..
New Pipeline Regulation Announced in Canada
The National Energy Board (NEB) in Canada has finalized an Order that requires all regulated companies to report any identified pipe or components – received, installed, or in service – that do not meet mechanical properties identified in industry standards or company specifications. This Order bui..
3M, Minnesota Settle Lawsuit, Establish Environmental Partnership
3M and the State of Minnesota today announced they have reached a resolution concerning the state’s lawsuit against the company related to certain PFCs present in the environment. Under the terms of the settlement, 3M and the state will partner to invest in the environment and community. 3M will pr..
Design Contract Awarded for Project to Minimize Flood Risk in Connecticut Town
WSP, Arcadis, Waggonner & Ball, and the Yale Urban Design Workshop have been awarded a contract to design resilience measures to minimize flood risk and account for sea level rise affecting Bridgeport, Connecticut’s South End businesses and residents. The project, one of 13 awarded by the U.S. Depar..
$42 Million Sewer Upgrade Completed to Keep Trash and Debris out of New York City Creek
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Vincent Sapienza today announced the completion of a $42 million project to build four subsurface litter capture devices that will improve the health and aesthetics of Newtown Creek. The in-sewer control devices include fixed ba..
Colorado’s Top Oil, Gas Regulator Joining Energy Consultancy
DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s top oil and gas regulator is stepping down to take a job with an energy consulting company. The Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said Tuesday Director Matt Lepore is resigning on March 4 after more than five years in the job. He’ll become legal counsel and strategic adv..
$5 Billion Case over 3M Chemicals Halted in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge halted jury selection Tuesday in the trial of Minnesota’s $5 billion lawsuit against manufacturer 3M Co., and both sides planned an afternoon announcement signaling a possible settlement. The lawsuit, filed in 2010, focuses on the company’s disposal of chemicals once used..
Judge Stops Village from Cutting Water to Mobile Home Park
MALVERN, Ohio (AP) — A judge has issued a temporary restraining order to stop an Ohio village from cutting off water to residents of a mobile home park. The Canton Repository reports the village of Malvern was about to stop water service at Sandy Creek Estates Mobile Home Park because those respons..
Navy to Hold Public Meeting in North Carolina Concerning Water Testing Plans
ATLANTIC, N.C. (AP) — The Navy is holding a public meeting this week on its cautionary water testing procedure in a town where two contaminated drinking wells have been discovered. The Daily News of Jacksonville reports the meeting will be held Wednesday at Atlantic Elementary School, where the Nav..
- HDD industry faces challenges as cities push back on fiber drilling disruptions
- 2 workers killed, 1 injured while working on sewer line in Mobile, Ala.
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico
- Tunnel boring continues under Chesapeake Bay for $3.9 billion HRBT Expansion project
- Judge approves construction for key portion of $485 million pipeline in Larimer County, Colo.
- New products: Latest industry developments
- 31 workers rescued after LA tunnel partially collapses
- Ohio Supreme Court rules sewer line location isn’t a ‘defect’ in property dispute
- Faulconer Construction begins rock blasting for water pipeline project in Charlottesville, Va.
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico