Regulatory
Regulators Take Step to Ban Fracking Near Delaware River
NEWTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A commission that oversees drinking water quality for 15 million people took an initial step Wednesday to permanently ban drilling and hydraulic fracturing near the Delaware River and its tributaries, drawing criticism from the natural gas industry as well as from environmental g..
StarKist to Pay $6.3M in American Samoa Wastewater Case
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) — The world’s largest supplier of canned tuna has agreed to pay a $6.3 million penalty for wastewater violations in American Samoa, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday. StarKist Co., based in Pittsburgh and owned by South Korea’s Dongwon Industries, will ..
New York City DEP Begins Tunneling for $1 Billion Project to Repair the Delaware Aqueduct
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has started tunneling for the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel, the largest repair project in the 175-year history of the city’s drinking water supply. The $1 billion project will repair two areas of leakage within the 85-mile Delaware Aq..
Hearing Scheduled for Pipeline Construction Project
Canada’s National Energy Board has announced it will hold a route realignment hearing in Chilliwack, BC early next year to review Kinder Morgan’s proposal to relocate nearly two kilometers of the previously approved general pipeline corridor within the city. If approved, the Chilliwack BC Hydro Rou..
New York City Completes $15 Million Sewer, Water Infrastructure Upgrades in Staten Island
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio have announced that a $15 million infrastructure project to upgrade storm sewers, sanitary sewers and water mains along Bloom..
Ohio Communities Receive $190 Million for Sewer, Water Projects
The Ohio EPA has awarded more than $190 million in funding for sewer and water construction projects across the state. The projects awarded funding include: $200,000 to the village of West Union to improve water quality in the Ohio River through upgrades to the community’s sanitary sewer system...
Florida DEP Awards More than $2 Million for Septic-to-Sewer Projects
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has awarded more than $2 million in funding to the city of Longwood for septic-to-sewer projects benefiting Lake Jesup. The projects are funded by the state’s nonpoint source grant program through the Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 gran..
Atlantic Sunrise Air Quality Plan Approved
Following a comprehensive review, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an Air Quality Plan Approval for air emissions related to construction activities in Lancaster County for the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project. “DEP thoroughly reviewed the application to ens..
EPA Grants Pollution Waiver to Florida Utilities After Irma
WASHINGTON (AP) — State and federal environmental regulators issued a blanket waiver on Monday for Florida electricity companies to violate clean air and water standards without penalty for the next two weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency said the so-called No Action Assurance granted throug..
Pipeline Construction Project Water Permit Revoked
In a letter sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection announced it has withdrawn a water quality certification previously issued in March for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. “This decision will allow the agency to re-evaluate the complete applica..
Minnesota Agency Recommends Against Pipeline Construction Project
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Commerce says Enbridge Energy has failed to establish the need for its proposal to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. Instead, the department says it might be better to just shut down the existing line. In filings w..
Trump Nominates New PHMSA Administrator
President Donald J. Trump has announced his intent to nominate Howard R. “Skip” Elliott as Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Elliott, who currently serves as group Vice President of Public Safety, Health, Environment and Security for CSX Tran..
Pipeline Construction Project Application Temporarily Suspended
The National Energy Board in Canada has agreed to suspend its review of TransCanada’s Energy East and Eastern Mainline projects for 30 days, following a request from the company. During this period, the board will not issue further decisions or take further steps concerning the review of the projec..
Vermont Seeks OK for Water Contamination Settlement
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The state is asking a court to approve a settlement it reached with a company over contamination of some private water wells with a suspected carcinogen. Under the agreement announced in July, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics will pay $20 million to extend municipal water li..
Taxpayer Money Misused for California Water Project
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. government improperly spent $84 million to help plan for a massive project to ship Northern California water to Southern California, a new federal audit said. Federal officials gave the taxpayer money to help finance Gov. Jerry Brown’s plans to build two giant water tu..
Idaho Town in Hot Water Over Sewer, Water Fees
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The city of Pocatello could be forced to pay back millions of dollars in excess fees following a recent Idaho Supreme Court ruling. According to the unanimous opinion, justices ruled that Pocatello’s sewer and water fees were not set at reasonable rates to help cover the costs o..
Trial Scheduled Against Ex-Ohio Water Plant Operator
SEBRING, Ohio (AP) – A trial is still planned for a fired water plant operator charged with misdemeanors for what authorities say was his failure to notify residents of a northeast Ohio village about lead in their drinking water. The Vindicator reports that an attorney for 61-year-old James Bates, ..
Kentucky Sending Hurricane-Relief Workers South
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is sending National Guard soldiers and utility workers to help in areas affected by Hurricane Irma. The Kentucky Air National Guard says it is sending about 25 soldiers to the Caribbean to help with search and rescue efforts in the wake of the Category 5 storm...
Developers Ask Regulators to OK Atlantic Coast Pipeline Soon
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Developers of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline are asking federal regulators to approve the project this month. Executives with Dominion Energy, Duke Energy and Southern Company Gas made the request in a letter Thursday to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The 600-..
TransCanada Requests Suspension Of Oil Pipeline
TransCanada has asked for a 30-day suspension of its application for the Energy East pipeline that should transport crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to the eastern part of Canada. According to the company, it wants to review the National Energy Board’s August decision to toughen the pipeline ..
Search Is on for Cost-Friendly Cesspool Alternatives in Hawaii
HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Community members are pressing Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim to do something about the contamination from cesspools leaking into the nearby sea. The county Environmental Management Commission is working to find a cost-effective solution for the communities in Kailua-Kona and Pua..
Engineers 20 Years Ago Warned of Houston Flooding Risk
DALLAS (AP) — A report released two decades ago on the Harris County reservoir system predicted with alarming accuracy the catastrophic flooding that would besiege the Houston area if changes weren’t made in the face of rapid development. The report released in 1996 by engineers with the Harris Cou..
Federal Agency Approves Use of Ohio Natural Gas Pipeline
COLUMBUS (AP) – A federal agency has given a company permission to begin using completed sections of its high-pressure natural gas pipeline in Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch reports the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has told Dallas-based Energy Transfer it can use its completed 42-inch diameter..
Cities Not Yet Paying Sioux City's Wastewater Service Charge
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three neighboring cities have yet to pay Sioux City’s long-overlooked wastewater service charge, lest they have to raise local sewage charges. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city discovered the neglected charge during an audit and notified officials in Sergeant Bluf..
FERC Names New General Counsel
FERC has named James P. Danly General Counsel, effective Sept. 18, 2017. He will replace David Morenoff, who has served as General Counsel since February 2017 and will assume the position of Deputy General Counsel once the transition is complete. Danly comes to FERC from the energy regulation and l..
Hurricane Impacts Talks Between Pipeline Company, North Dakota Regulators
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Hurricane Harvey has impacted the pace of negotiations between the company that built the Dakota Access oil pipeline and North Dakota regulators investigating potential violations of state rules during construction. Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak says attorney neg..
Mississippi Town Increases Water Rates to Meet Federal Requirement
MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi city is increasing its water and sewer rates to make federally mandated improvements. Local news outlets report that the Meridian City Council on Tuesday approved a 10 percent rate increase for the new budget year that begins Oct. 1. The new revenue will help p..
City, County Dispute Left Large Pothole Open for 5 Years
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The ankle-deep, sloping hole in the sidewalk is smack dab between two curb cut outs and uneven chunks of concrete. It’s been there so long — at least five years — that grass has grown underneath the sidewalk at the corner of Parkview Terrace and Lyons Avenue in Newark. ..
Permits OK'd for Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline
CONESTOGA, Pa. (AP) — A company building a controversial $3 billion pipeline to carry natural gas from northeastern Pennsylvania to southern states has been granted critical permits for construction. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday approved water-crossing permits..
California Lawmakers Pass Bill on Stormwater Fees
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Californians could see their water bills increase under a measure passed by lawmakers Thursday. The legislative bill approved by the state Assembly would let local governments charge residents for storm water management systems without voter approval. Supporters of the me..
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds