Regulatory
Pennsylvania Water Treatment Operator Agrees to Surrender Certifications
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today it has entered into a consent order and agreement with J. Robert DeSandis of Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County to surrender his operator certifications as a Water and Wastewater Systems Operator. DeSandis has admitted to su..
FERC Approves Avista, Hydro One Merger
Hydro One Limited and Avista Corporation have received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the companies’ merger application filed on Sept. 14, 2017. “This marks another important milestone in bringing together Hydro One and Avista,” said Mayo Schmidt, President and CEO..
California Governor Proposes One-Tunnel Water Plan
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration is scaling back his troubled plans to redo California’s water system, releasing a new proposal that would build only one tunnel to ship water from Northern California instead of two, and put Southern and central California water agencies directl..
10 Massachusetts Communities Share Water Grants
BOSTON (AP) — Ten Massachusetts communities are sharing nearly $400,000 in state grants to improve drinking water or improve wastewater treatment facilities. The grants administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection were announced last week. Department Commissioner Martin..
Future Floods to be in Mind as California Town Rebuilds
MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — After power and drinking water return, and cleanup crews haul away the last of the boulders and muck that splintered homes like a battering ram, the wealthy seaside hideaway of Montecito, California, will start rebuilding with the possibility of another catastrophic flood in..
Pennsylvania DEP to Take Over Allegheny County Drinking Water Inspections
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced that effective Feb. 1, 2018, DEP’s safe drinking water program will resume inspection responsibilities for the 66 public drinking water systems in Allegheny County. Since the mid-19..
Federal Regulators Deny Constitution Pipeline Water Permit Petition
On Jan. 11, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) denied Constitution Pipeline Co. LLC’s petition to overturn New York’s denial of a water quality certification for the Constitution Pipeline, an approximately 125-mile natural gas pipeline that will connect Susquehanna County, Pennsyl..
Residents with Tainted Water Supplies Plan Statehouse Rally
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Residents of an upstate New York village whose water supply has been contaminated plan to hold a demonstration in Albany to call for a new source of clean drinking water. Organizers say many Hoosick Falls residents will be joined by union members and environmental protection adv..
Ohio Water Projects Receive $2.2 Million
The Ohio EPA has awarded approximately $2.2 million in low-interest loans to improve two water systems across the state. The projects receiving funding include: $20,170 to the City of Toronto to develop an asset management plan for the city’s public drinking water system. Once completed, the ass..
$22 Million Awarded for Sewer, Water Projects Across Texas
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved more than $22 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the following construction projects: $16.71 million to the city of Princeton, which includes installing 1,000 linear feet of pipeline..
Indiana Water Well Field Proposed as EPA Cleanup Priority
ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) — Federal officials are considering adding a well field in central Indiana to the national Superfund list for cleanup. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management referred the Wheeler well field in Anderson to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for long-term cleanup..
New York Village Votes to Sue over Tainted Drinking Water
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Officials in an upstate New York village have voted to sue two companies for costs related to tainted drinking water. An attorney for Hoosick Falls says the village voted Tuesday to sue Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International after failed negotiation..
$4.5 Million Awarded for Ohio Water Projects
The Ohio EPA has awarded $4.5 million in low-interest loans to improve two water systems across the state. The projects receiving funding include: $1.86 million to the Greater Cincinnati Water Works to replace the Beech Avenue water main. The project includes replacing more than 9,000 feet of 6-..
Michigan Sues Company over Chemical Contaminants in Water
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan environmental regulators on Wednesday sued footwear company Wolverine World Wide over widely used industrial chemical contaminants that were dumped into the ground decades ago and have seeped into drinking water, saying the lawsuit is necessary to lock into place respo..
Funding for Sewer, Water Projects Hangs in Balance of Washington State Budget
OLYMPIA (AP)— About $4 billion in new school construction and other projects throughout the state remain on hold six months after a water-related dispute stalled passage of the state’s two-year construction budget. Lawmakers have been working on a compromise. But top Republican and Democratic leade..
Contractor Charged With Felony for Death in Trench Collapse
SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle contractor has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of an employee who was killed when a sewer trench collapsed in 2016. The Seattle Times reports Philip Numrich allegedly violated and ignored safety regulations, leading to the collapse of the trench at..
Michigan Sets Standard for Chemical Contaminant in Water
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan regulators on Tuesday set a state threshold for chemicals that were once widely used and are being found in drinking water, a move they said will let them issue violation notices and take legal action if needed. The announcement is the latest as Republican Gov. Rick S..
President Trump Signs Orders to Improve Rural Broadband
President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order and presidential memorandum designed to enhance internet speeds in rural communities across America. According to the executive order, agencies must remove barriers to capital investment and providing broadband services to those in rural commu..
Ex-Senator to Try to Broker Deals in Flint Water Crisis Lawsuits
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A judge says she plans to appoint former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin as a mediator in lawsuits related to the Flint water crisis. Federal Judge Judith Levy says Levin would work with former Wayne County Judge Pamela Harwood. Levin represented Michigan in the U.S. Senate for more than 3..
More New York Utility Workers Sent to Help Restore Power in Puerto Rico
On Jan. 8, 2018, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the deployment of 46 National Grid workers to help restore power to Puerto Rico’s severely damaged power grid from Hurricane Maria in September. “New Yorkers help their neighbors in their time of need and I could not be prouder of the way thi..
Hawaii Water Service Files General Rate Case for Waikoloa Service Areas
Hawaii Water Service (Hawaii Water), a subsidiary of California Water Service Group has filed a General Rate Case with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) seeking recovery of capital investments in its Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Resort systems. If approved as filed, total annual revenue..
Louisiana Utility Regulators Looking for New Agency Chief
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s state utility regulatory agency is searching for a new top administrator. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is seeking candidates to be its next executive secretary, after Eve Kahao Gonzalez retired from the position, which oversees the day-to-day operation..
Officials: Water Pipe Break at JFK Airport Weather-Related
NEW YORK (AP) — A water pipe break in one of the terminals at New York’s Kennedy Airport on Sunday added to the delays at the beleaguered airport trying to recover from the aftermath of a snowstorm that has stranded thousands of passengers. In a statement, the Port Authority of New York and New Jer..
Kentucky City Declares Water Emergency Amid Cold Conditions
HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — Citing “extraordinary” cold weather conditions, a Kentucky city has declared a water emergency and implemented mandatory conservation measures. The City of Hazard’s Sunday declaration followed its difficulty with supplying all of its utility customers with water because of cold t..
Supreme Court Hears Florida-Georgia Water Dispute
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court appears to be looking for a way to side with Florida in its complaint that Georgia uses too much water and leaves too little for its southern neighbor. The justices heard argument Monday in the long-running dispute between the two states. The fight is over Georgi..
Colorado Considers New Pipeline Regulations after Fatal Explosion
DENVER (AP) — Colorado regulators are considering proposed new rules for thousands of oil and gas pipelines after a fatal explosion last year blamed on leaking gas. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission opened two days of hearings Monday on regulations for installing, testing and shuttin..
Florida and Georgia Taking Water Fight to Supreme Court
APALACHICOLA, Fla. (AP) — Reminders of the oyster’s pre-eminence in this slice of northwestern Florida are everywhere, from the shells that line the edges of downtown buildings to the paintings of oysters that dot the walls of Apalachicola’s art and history museum. It’s the oysters themselves that ..
Utah Wants Clarity on Regulatory Say over Water Pipeline Project
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah officials are seeking clarity on regulatory oversight of a pipeline to deliver Colorado River water from Lake Powell to communities in southwestern Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that state officials are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to hold off on ..
Missouri Senator Confirmed to State Utility Board
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators have confirmed appointments of two of their Republican colleagues to serve on tax and utility commissions. Both Silvey and Kraus resigned from the Senate to take the jobs. ..
New York Apartment Complex Fined $400,000 for Illegal Sewer Discharges
As part of ongoing efforts to improve water quality in Coney Island Creek, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has fined Beach Haven Apartments Associates, LLC for illicit sewage discharges. The $400,000 fine is DEC’s single largest penalty issued to a residential build..
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