Regulatory
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Sues for Eminent Domain in Virginia
ROSELAND, Va. (AP) — The company behind the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is pursuing two eminent domain cases in one Virginia county. The News & Advance of Lynchburg reports ACP LLC officials filed the lawsuit Friday against Nelson County’s Wintergreen Property Owners Association following an inability ..
Obama-Era Methane Emissions Rule to be Replaced
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Interior Department is replacing an Obama-era regulation aimed at restricting harmful methane emissions from oil and gas production on federal lands. A rule being published in the Federal Register this week will replace the 2016 rule with requirements similar to those in force..
Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Would Study Sale of Federal Utility’s Assets
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The infrastructure plan outlined by President Donald Trump on Monday suggests studying whether the nation’s largest public utility should sell its transmission assets, which Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander called “a looney idea” with “zero chance of becoming law.” ..
Trump Infrastructure Plan Relies on State, Local Funding
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday launched what he calls a “big week” for his infrastructure plan, which envisions $1.5 trillion in spending over a decade to rebuild roads and highways. The plan would fulfill a key campaign goal but rely heavily on state and local government budgets..
Mississippi City to Extend Water and Sewer to Area Annexed 10 Years Ago
BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) — A southwest Mississippi city is finally getting around to extending services to some neighborhoods that it annexed a decade ago. The Daily Leader reports that Brookhaven aldermen are agreeing to borrow $8.5 million from two state loan funds to extend water and sewer lines t..
Virginia Senate Passes Dominion-Backed Regulation Rewrite
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Senate has passed legislation putting new limits on regulators’ ability to lower utilities’ electric rates that are currently earning excessive profits. The Senate voted Friday for the bill, which also providing some rebates for past overearnings. The vo..
National Guard Helping After Chemicals Found in Delaware Town's Water
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Gov. John Carney has authorized the National Guard to assist residents of a Delaware town after high levels of toxic chemicals were discovered in municipal wells. Authorities said Friday that the Guard has provided two 400-gallon portable water tanks and coordinated troops to ens..
Missouri Senate Advances Utility Rates Bill After Daylong Filibuster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate on Thursday advanced legislation that could reward utilities making improvements to their infrastructure with more consistent rate increases on their customers, a move that came after a more than 20-hour, overnight filibuster finally ended. The legisla..
Agencies Praise Introduction of Bill to Address America's Water Infrastructure Crisis
Water agencies across America today announced their support for the introduction of bipartisan legislation that will modernize investment in water infrastructure by empowering states to invest in multiple water infrastructure projects. The Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now (SRF..
New Hampshire Town to Get Nearly $1.2M for Water, Sewer Repairs
COLEBROOK, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Executive Council has voted to send nearly $1.2 million in funding to the town of Colebrook for water and sewer improvements. The money comes from the state Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund. Senate President Chuck Morse said the community is in cri..
OSHA Fines Company After 2 Employees Die at Sewer Station
PETAL, Miss. (AP) – A federal workplace safety agency has fined a Mississippi business nearly $28,000 after two men died while working on a sewer lift station. The Hattiesburg American reports that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration initially proposed fines of $43,000 against Sc..
Sweeping Changes to Canadian Pipeline Regulations Proposed
Following a 14-month investigation, the Government of Canada has proposed extensive changes that would drastically change how oil and gas pipeline projects will be reviewed moving forward. The proposed changes include: Increased public participation in project reviews: A new early engagement pha..
Missouri Senate Endures Filibuster on Utility Rates Bill
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sleepy Missouri senators worked through the night into a new day Thursday as a small group of lawmakers filibustered a bill that could reward utilities making improvements to their infrastructure with more consistent rate increases on their customers. The legislation chan..
Virginia Regulators: Utility Bill Could Mean Billions of New Charges
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Regulators say legislation proposing a major rewrite of the Virginia’s oversight of electric monopolies could result in billions of new charges “paid by customers in higher rates.” The State Corporation Commission sent a letter to lawmakers Wednesday contradicting many of the..
California Governor Trims Giant Water Tunnels Project
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration scaled back the latest version of his four-decade effort to redo California’s north-south water system Wednesday, cutting plans to build giant water tunnels from two to one. Reducing the number of tunnels — at least for now — would help C..
Plan Would Send More Tax Money to Mississippi Cities for Roads, Water
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Cities would receive a slightly larger share of Mississippi sales tax collections under a plan that lawmakers are debating. Senators voted 42-9 Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 2455 . It would require cities to spend the extra money on infrastructure projects such as roads,..
Pennsylvania Pipeline Work Resumes After $12M Fine, Changes
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania regulators are fining Sunoco more than $12 million for problems with a massive natural gas pipeline project, but letting work resume under a consent agreement. The Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday that Sunoco Pipeline has made changes sinc..
Regulators OK Discharge Permit for Pipeline Expansion Plan
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Regulators have approved a construction stormwater discharge permit for Mountaineer Gas Co.’s proposed natural gas distribution line expansion in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. The Department of Environmental Protection said in a news release Wednesday the permit gives ..
State Regulators Approve Deal in Arizona Water Service Dispute
PHOENIX (AP) — State utility regulators have approved a settlement to a long-lingering dispute between two Arizona water companies over a section of service territory south of Phoenix. The Arizona Corporation Commission on Tuesday approved the settlement, allowing the Arizona Water Co. to kee..
Trump to Nominate Memphis Attorney to Federal Utility Board
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to nominate Memphis attorney John L. Ryder to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board. A news release from the White House says Ryder would serve a term expiring in May of 2020 if he’s confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ryder previously..
Slip Lining Helps Reduce Cost, Duration of New York City Water Main Project
The New York City Departments of Design and Construction (DDC) and Environmental Protection (DEP) are currently using slip lining to improve the water distribution system near McCarren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The method threads new water mains through existing underground pipes with the use ..
Rover Pipeline HDD Activities at Tuscarawas River Can Resume
FERC has approved Energy Transfer Partners’ request to resume horizontal directional drilling (HDD) activities at the Tuscarawas River in Ohio. On January 24, the commission ordered the company to suspend HDD activities at the Tuscarawas River site due to concerns about potential environmental impa..
Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration over Water Rule
NEW YORK (AP) — Eleven Democratic state attorneys general have sued President Donald Trump’s administration for holding off a government rule aimed at reducing pollution in the nation’s waterways. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (SHNEYE’-dur-muhn) says last week’s suspension of the 2015..
API: Natural Gas Helps Create Reliable, Resilient Electric Power System
API has released the following statement highlighting the positive impacts that natural gas offers to power generation and following testimony by nuclear energy advocates at today’s House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing. “Our nation’s electric grid is as reliable as it has ever been as dat..
$32K Fine for Ex-Utilities Commissioner Lobbying Colleagues
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s campaign watchdog announced Monday that it is fining a former public utilities commissioner $32,500 for failing to disclose that she was lobbying her former colleagues on behalf of ride-hailing and water companies. The Fair Political Practices Commission annou..
Virginia Gov. Announces Compromise on Electric Rate Overhaul
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s governor is endorsing a major overhaul of electricity regulations sought by utilities in the state, despite warnings from the state’s attorney general and others that customers will end up paying more than they should. Gov. Ralph Northam issued a statement Monday say..
New Reservoir to Supply Water to North Texas
PARIS, TEXAS (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved Texas’ first new reservoir in 30 years with hopes of providing water to North Texas’ rapidly growing population. The Dallas Morning News reports that construction of the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir will begin in spring, nort..
PennEast Proposal to Use Land for Gas Pipeline Rejected
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s attorney general rejected a proposal for use of state-controlled land for a $1.1 billion natural gas pipeline, slowing the years-long effort by the company to break ground on a project strongly opposed by environmental groups. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in..
Indiana House Member Among Finalists for Utility Commission
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The legislator who leads the Indiana House utility committee is among the finalists for a seat on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that oversees most of the state’s electricity and natural gas companies. The governor’s office says Republican Rep. David Ober of Albion is..
Will President’s Plan Fix New Orleans’ Old Water, Sewer Systems?
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When a heavy rain hits New Orleans, residents move their cars to higher ground for fear of fast-rising street flooding. Knee-deep potholes can eat a car’s fender. When pressure drops in the city’s aging water delivery system, restaurants and cafes have to boil water to feed custom..
- PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
- OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
- Phase 1 Alaska LNG pipeline advances with construction awards, pipe supply agreements
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- Gateway Tunnel construction faces shutdown next week as Trump withholds federal funding
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion