Regulatory
Ohio EPA Unveils 2018 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program Management Plan
Ohio EPA has finalized the 2018 Program Management Plan for the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), which provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the quality of Ohio’s rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies. As part of the 2018 plan, the agency is offering..
Virginia Regulator Target of Intimidation Attempt by Pipeline Protesters
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) – A member of Virginia’s water board says opponents of two proposed natural gas pipelines are trying to intimidate her. The Virginian-Pilot reports that a banner reading “Stop Poisoning Our Community!” was hung on the front porch of State Water Control Board Vice Chair Heather Woo..
New Jersey: Atlantic City Water Works Won’t be Sold
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey officials say Atlantic City’s water utility will not be privatized. Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Chiesa (Key-EH’-sah) said Wednesday the state will not seek to sell the utility. There had been speculation that the state, which had seized control of Atlantic City’s as..
$20M for Plant that Spewed Black Water near Niagara Falls
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — The aging sewage treatment plant responsible for a stinky black discharge at Niagara Falls over the summer is in line for an overhaul. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday proposed spending $20 million to begin improvements at the Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment Facil..
Fiber Broadband Association Releases White Paper on Fiber and 5G
The Fiber Broadband Association has released a new white paper, “The Road to 5G is Paved with Fiber,” on the necessity of fiber broadband for 5G networks. The paper explains how more wireline fiber—and a substantial amount of it—will be needed to support the next generation of our wireless networks...
Federal Judge Dismisses Legal Effort to Halt Gas Pipeline
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge has delivered a blow to some Ohio property owners’ efforts to stop construction of a high-pressure natural gas pipeline. U.S. District Judge John Adams in Akron on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed in May by more than 60 property owners. They want the Federal Ener..
Indiana Utility Commission Chairman to Retire in January
NDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The chairman of the Indiana commission that oversees utility companies is retiring after less than a year on the job. Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday that Jim Atterholt will retire on Jan. 12 as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Holcomb had appointed Atte..
Portland Water Bureau Proposes Settlement with Ratepayers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The city of Portland has reached a proposed $10 million settlement with water and sewer ratepayers who questioned spending ratepayer money on non-water-related programs. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the Portland Water Bureau and an attorney for ratepayers on Friday an..
Troubled New Orleans Sewer and Water Agency Facing Federal Audit
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The agency that oversees drainage, sewer and water systems in New Orleans faces an audit of its spending of federal money received following Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans news outlets report that the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General notified the Sewe..
Iowa City May Raise Sewer User Fees for Infrastructure Upgrades
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A city in central Iowa has approved a plan to spend $73 million over 15 years to improve the city’s sewer system, a move that could lead to rate increases. The Waterloo City Council unanimously approved a sanitary sewer improvement plan Tuesday in order to comply with a ..
Phase 1B of the Rover Pipeline Can Begin Operations
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place Phase 1B of the Rover Pipeline project into service. With the addition of the Phase 1B facilities, the Rover Pipeline is now capable of transporting up to 1.7 billion cubic feet per da..
Regulators Approve Utility's Rate Increase to Recoup Infrastructure Costs
The Maine Water Company (Maine Water), a subsidiary of Connecticut Water Service, Inc. (Connecticut Water), today announced that the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has approved a water rate increase for customers of Maine Water’s Biddeford and Saco Division, which serves 16,500 customers i..
Texas Water Development Board Now Accepting Applications for SWIFT Funding
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has opened the application period for the 2018 funding cycle of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program. The application period began on Dec. 8, 2017 and ends Feb. 2, 2018. “The TWDB has committed $5.6 billion in financial assistance to..
Texas Town Receives $2 Million for Water Pipeline Upgrades
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved financial assistance in the amount of $2 million, consisting of a $1 million loan and $1 million in loan forgiveness, from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the city of Gorman. The city will use the assistance to finance construction cos..
CPS Energy' COO Appointed Co-Chair of Puerto Rico's Transformation Advisory Council
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) announced today that CPS Energy’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Cris Eugster, has been appointed co-chair of the Transformation Advisory Council (TAC). The TAC, comprised of 11 executive leaders from the public power and investor owned utility sec..
FERC Approves Oncor, Sempra Energy Merger
Sempra Energy and Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) today announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order authorizing Sempra Energy’s acquisition of Energy Future Holdings Corp. (EFH), the indirect owner of approximately 80 percent of Oncor. On A..
Settlement Approved in Pennsylvania American Water Rate Case
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today unanimously approved a settlement that allows Pennsylvania American Water to raise water and wastewater rates, effective Jan. 1, 2018. The primary factor behind the rate increase is the approximately $1.26 billion of investments to replace and u..
Construction Begins on Florida Water Storage Project
On Dec. 13, 2017, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined the city of Port St. Lucie, the South Florida Water Management District, and local officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the McCarty Ranch Extension Water Quality Restoration Project. The project will reduce the..
California Wildfires Prompt Talks on Tougher Utility Rules
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California utilities may face tougher safety rules for power lines, phone lines and utility poles in parts of the state most prone to wildfires. Under the proposed rules being considered Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission, tree branches would have to be kept..
Regulators Give Go-Ahead for Study of Lake Powell Pipeline
Federal regulators are giving the go-ahead for environmental studies and public comment about a proposed 140-mile (225-kilometer) pipeline to draw water from the Colorado River to serve southwestern Utah communities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday formally accepted a stat..
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Receives Water Permit in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A panel of Virginia environmental regulators granted a conditional permit Tuesday for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, making its approval contingent on getting more information about the project’s impact on water quality. The Virginia State Water Control Board voted 4-3 t..
New York Announces Plan to Transform Puerto Rico's Electric Power Grid
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced a plan to rebuild and transform Puerto Rico’s electric power system, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in September. The envisioned system will be more resilient, efficient, advanced, and less dependent..
Hearing Postponed for Regulator Charged in Flint Water Crisis
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A hearing has been postponed for a state employee charged in the Flint water scandal who was to return to court for a possible plea deal with the attorney general’s office. The Flint Journal reports that a notice from Genesee District Court says Tuesday’s hearing for Adam ..
Indiana Addresses Potential Water Crisis
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Officials in Indiana are trying to prevent a water crisis as both supply and infrastructure are inadequate for future needs. A 2016 survey found that Indiana utilities have an immediate need for $2.26 billion to replace water meters, hydrants, water mains, treatment plants, well..
Virginia Regulators Weigh Key Approval for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — State regulators will soon decide whether to grant a key approval to the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Virginia State Water Control Board will meet for a second day Tuesday to consider whether to issue a water quality certification for the natural gas pipeline that woul..
Environmental Groups File Lawsuit to Try to Block Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A coalition of environmental groups has filed a federal lawsuit to try to block a natural gas pipeline planned for southwestern Virginia. The Mountain Valley Pipeline cleared its last regulatory hurdle and won state water permits Thursday. The lawsuit was filed Friday in the ..
New York Making Millions Available to Sewer, Water Districts in Push for Geothermal Systems
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state is making $3.8 million available in a clean energy challenge to push for more geothermal systems. The initiative by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York Power Authority is aimed at helping stimulate financing and installation o..
INGAA Announces Leadership Changes
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) today announced the retirement of Terry Boss, senior vice president of environment, safety and operations, after a distinguished 33-year career in the pipeline industry, including 23 years with INGAA. Boss, who has led INGAA’s efforts on pip..
California Water Districts Don't Need Voter Approval on Fees
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The state’s water conservation districts don’t need the approval of property owners or voters to charge their customers fees to fund programs aimed at protecting groundwater, the California Supreme Court ruled on Monday. But the justices in a unanimous decision also said the ..
Virginia Water Board Certifies Mountain Valley Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s Water Control Board has issued a certification for a proposed natural gas pipeline that will run through six counties in the state. The board voted 5-2 Thursday to issue a water quality certification for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The Roanoke Times reports that at..
- 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