Regulatory
National Rural Water Association Partners with Department of Labor on Apprenticeship Program
The National Rural Water Association (NRWA), today announced a partnership with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to launch a nationwide apprenticeship program. The WaterPro Apprenticeship Program, tailored to water and wastewater system operations specialists, is now a nationally-reco..
Vermont Council Reopens Bidding Process for Telecom Utility
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Burlington officials have formed a committee to determine how to vote on a buyer for the city’s Burlington Telecom utility following a failed joint venture proposal. The Burlington Free Press reports a final vote has been scheduled for Nov. 27. The finalists, Ting and Keep Bu..
New York Utility Crews Arrive in Puerto Rico to Help Restore Power
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than 160 electric public and private utility experts and nearly 100 utility vehicles have arrived in Puerto Rico to assist with the recovery of its power grid caused by severe damage from Hurricane Maria in September. Governor Cuomo also announc..
Alaska Commission Rejects Canadian Firm’s Offer for Utility
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s utility regulator has turned down a Canadian firm’s offer to take over Alaska Electric Light and Power citing a legal technicality. The Juneau Empire reported Sunday that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska denied Ontario-based Hydro One’s application to acquire the e..
Firm Opposes Subpoena in Bribery Case Against Ex-Regulator
PHOENIX (AP) – A water company whose owner is charged with bribing a former Arizona utility regulator is opposing a subpoena that orders the Corporation Commission to turn over records as part of the criminal case. Lawyers for Johnson Utilities say the records are related to its rate case before th..
Utility Set to Meet with Officials About Buying Gas Company
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A utility company’s representatives are scheduled to meet with state officials to work on the terms for buying a natural gas business that will bring service to more customers in the Fairbanks area. Interior Gas Utility Board Chairman Mike Meeks and recently appointed board..
New Jersey American Water Invests $4.4 Million in Essex County
New Jersey American Water has commenced construction on two water infrastructure improvements, investing $4.4 million within its service areas of Millburn and West Orange. The approximate 8,640 feet of new pipe replaces water main that has reached the end of its useful life and will be replaced with..
Canadian Pipeline Construction Project Hearing Starts
Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) will hear oral cross-examination beginning today, Nov. 8, on an application from TransCanada to abandon a 266-kilometer section of its Peace River Mainline. The hearing began at 9 a.m. at the NEB’s Hearing Room in Calgary, and is open to the public. TransCanada ..
Hearing Set to Address Constitutional Questions Concerning Canadian Pipeline
The National Energy Board (NEB) will hold a two-day oral hearing to address a motion filed by Kinder Morgan, which includes constitutional questions. The company filed a request with the NEB on Oct. 26, saying it had been unable to secure municipal permits that would enable the company to commence ..
Water Line Extension Completed in New York Town
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has completed an extension of a public water supply line to serve the residents of the Sunnyside Gardens neighborhood in the town of Glenville. The project was part of an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) put in place by DEC to aggressiv..
Ohio Regulators Propose 2018 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program Management Plan
The Ohio EPA will hold a meeting on Nov. 20 to discuss the agency’s draft 2018 Program Management Plan for the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The fund provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the quality of Ohio’s rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies..
Vermont Town Proposes Joint Venture Purchase of Telecom Utility
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Burlington officials have directed the two buyers vying for the city’s Burlington Telecom utility to figure out a joint venture proposal. The Burlington Free Press reports Councilor Ali Dieng proposed the joint venture Monday night after the two votes to decide a final buyer ..
Campaign Against Fort Collins Internet Plan Spends $451000
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Campaign finance reports show opponents of a proposal to let the city of Fort Collins set up its own high-speed internet system have spent more than $451,000 to fight the plan. The Fort Collins Coloradoan reported Saturday the spending was paid for in part by a $175,000 d..
6 Missouri Utilities to Share $120 Million in Federal Loans
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Six Missouri utilities will use nearly $120 million in federal loans to upgrade the infrastructure for electricity in rural parts of the state. The Missouri grants are part of $2.5 billion in loans the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded for rural electricity projec..
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Secures Another Key Federal Permit
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline has cleared another key regulatory hurdle. The U.S. Forest Service granted approval Friday for the natural gas pipeline to run through the George Washington National Forest and Monongahela National Forest. About 21 miles (33 kilometers) of ..
Boil Water Notice Lifted in Rhode Island After Negative E. Coli Test
WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — A boil water notice has been lifted in Westerly, after new testing no longer showed the presence of the E. coli bacteria. The Westerly Water Department lifted the notice on Friday, saying a problem well has been taken offline, and the entire system has been disinfected. ..
Oral Arguments Scheduled In Texas-New Mexico Water Fight
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in a lengthy battle between New Mexico and Texas over management of one of North America’s longest rivers. Oral arguments in the Rio Grande case are scheduled Jan. 8. All sides say the stakes are high given uncertainty ab..
Judge Won’t Impose Deadline in Mountain Valley Pipeline Lawsuit
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A federal judge tells developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline he won’t order all landowners in its West Virginia lawsuit to respond by Dec. 4 to motions for summary judgment for rights of way available under federal regulations. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that U..
Vermont Lawmaker Floats Fee to Fund Water Quality Projects
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont lawmaker is proposing a land parcel fee to supplement funding for water quality projects. Vermont Public Radio reports Democratic Natural Resources Chair Sen. Christopher Bray is backing the proposal. Under the plan, property owners would pay $1 each month. Bray say..
HDD Activities Get Green Light at More Rover Pipeline Locations
FERC has conditionally approved Energy Transfer Partners’ request to resume horizontal directions drilling (HDD) activities at the following locations along the Rover Pipeline: Honey Creek – Energy Transfer Partners says J.D. Hair & Associates’ recommendation of using an 8-degree overbend is not..
Parties Pledge New Thinking to Solve Interstate Water Fight
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Farmers in southern New Mexico, water policy experts, lawyers and others are all working behind the scenes to craft possible solutions that could help to end a lengthy battle with Texas over management of the Rio Grande. The case is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court and..
Officials: Water Safe at 3 Michigan Schools Amid Chemical Concerns
ROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) — Officials say says trace levels of hazardous chemicals in water at three western Michigan elementary schools don’t pose a public health risk. Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Michael Shibler released an update Wednesday on testing. The state had agreed to test water qua..
Water Pollution Lawsuit Settled in Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A major chicken processing plant that has been cited for polluting the Suwannee River settled a lawsuit on Wednesday that was brought by environmental groups in Florida. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. settled the suit with Environment Florida and the Sierra Club, agreeing to pay $1..
DOJ: Protestors Interfering With Pipeline Construction Will Be Prosecuted
The U.S. Justice Department will begin prosecuting climate activists and protestors that perpetrate violence and destruction towards pipelines or other oil infrastructure to make their political points, Reuters said in a new report. “While we are strong advocates for the First Amendment, violence t..
Pipeline Opponents Ask Regulators to Reconsider Approvals
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Opponents of two proposed natural gas pipelines are asking federal regulators to reconsider their approval of the projects. Dozens of environmental groups and individuals filed rehearing requests this week with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the Atlantic Coa..
Virginia Town Postpones Vote on Atlantic Coast Pipeline Easements
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Norfolk City Council postponed a vote on whether to grant easements for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross two drinking water reservoirs, the only ones in the project’s path. The Virginian-Pilot reports the council was scheduled to consider the issue Tuesday night bu..
$25 Million Sewer Upgrade Completed in New York
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Vincent Sapienza and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio today announced the completion of construction on a $25 million sewer project in the southeast Queens neighborhood of Rosedale that ..
Kansas Lawmakers Disagree on Funding for Water Resources
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An interim legislative committee in Kansas is struggling to agree on where funding should come from to extend the life of the state’s water resources. The joint Special Committee on Natural Resources decided Monday not to recommend raising any fees to pay for projects that would..
Documents: Puerto Rico Utility Ignored Advice on Repair Deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Puerto Rico’s bankrupt electric utility ignored advice from its own lawyers before signing an expanded contract worth $300 million with a tiny Montana company to repair its damaged power grid, newly released documents show. The law firm, Greenberg Traurig, recommended that the sta..
U.S. Grid Narrowly Escapes Apocalyptic Attack
The American grid security story grows increasingly grim. Last week, security consulting firm Symantec warned that recent cyberattacks gave hackers direct access to the nation’s power grid on multiple occasions, according to a new report by Wired. This time, not only the United States was exposed, ..
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- 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