Regulatory
Canadian regulators deny FortisBC Energy’s natural gas pipeline plans
The British Columbia Utilities Commission denied FortisBC Energy Inc.’s application for its Okanagan Capacity Upgrade project, which includes the construction, installation, and operation of approximately 30 km of new natural gas pipeline.
Developers want water policy changes in response to construction limits on metro Phoenix’s fringes
Developers plan to seek changes to Arizona’s decades-old laws restricting construction in areas without adequate water supplies after the state said this summer that it won’t issue permits for new subdivisions in some areas on metro Phoenix’s fringes.
Drought-prone California OKs new rules for turning wastewater directly into drinking water
California regulators on Tuesday approved new rules to let water agencies recycle wastewater and put it right back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools and businesses.
Wisconsin DNR preps 2024 grant program for small water systems to deal with PFAS contamination
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is creating a new grant program to help small public water systems reduce PFAS and manganese contamination levels.
Governor Hochul allocates $479 million for 156 local water projects in New York
(UI) — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $479 million in grants for critical water infrastructure projects. The funding, announced on Dec. 12, is projected to save local ratepayers an estimated $1.3 billion and create 24,000 jobs across the state.
Missouri couple facing charges after audit uncovers theft from Bootheel sewer district
A husband and wife duo are each facing two dozen counts of felony stealing after a state audit found they tapped a small-town sewer district for more than $160,000 in personal proceeds.
Residents in St. Croix sue government over water contaminated with lead and copper
A group of residents have sued a public utility company in the U.S. Virgin Islands after authorities there reported finding high levels of lead and copper in the tap water on St. Croix. The report caused panic and forced tens of thousands to rely on bottled water.
Drought-prone California advances controversial water tunnel project despite environmental opposition
A long-sought and disputed project in drought-prone California aimed at capturing more water during heavy rain storms reached a key milestone on Friday when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration finished an environmental review for an underground tunnel.
Regulators’ recommendation would mean 3% lower electric rates for New Mexico residential customers
Staff for New Mexico’s utility regulators have recommended new rates for the state’s largest electric provider that would result in about a 3% decrease for residential customers instead of the 9.7% increase Public Service Co. of New Mexico was seeking.
Montana challenges EPA rule to protect water quality certifications, foster infrastructure development
(UI) — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and ten other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule on Dec. 5 stating that it makes "sweeping and unlawful" changes to federal regulations governing state-issued water quality certifications.
US officials want ships to anchor farther from California undersea pipelines, citing 2021 oil spill
Federal officials on Tuesday recommended increasing the distance from undersea pipelines that vessels are allowed to anchor in Southern California, citing a 2021 oil spill they said was caused by ships whose anchors were dragged across a pipeline after a storm.
Biden administration targets US oil and gas industry with new rule on methane emissions
The Biden administration on Saturday issued a final rule aimed at reducing methane emissions, targeting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as President Joe Biden seeks to advance his climate legacy.
Michigan regulators approve $500 million Great Lakes tunnel for aging oil pipeline
Michigan officials approved a $500 million plan Friday to encase in a protective tunnel a portion of an aging oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes, leaving just one more regulatory hurdle for the contentious project.
Seattle and King County, Wash., penalized for sewer overflow violations
(UI) — The Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are jointly issuing penalties to Seattle and King County for violating conditions of their federal consent decrees and state water quality permits that regulate combined sewer overflows from Seattle’s sanitary sewer system.
Congressmen ask DOJ to investigate water utility hack, warning it could happen anywhere
Three members of Congress have asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate how foreign hackers breached a water authority near Pittsburgh, prompting the nation’s top cyber defense agency to warn other water and sewage-treatment utilities that they may be vulnerable.
Federal appeals court upholds judge’s dismissal of Dakota Access Pipeline protesters’ lawsuit
A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal judge’s 2021 decision dismissing a lawsuit filed by protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline, who alleged law enforcement officers used excessive force during a clash in 2016.
TC Energy secures FERC nod for pipeline expansion project in Virginia
Columbia Gas Transmission's Virginia Reliability Project (VRP) represents a strategic expansion project designed to replace two segments of the existing pipeline system, ensuring a continual and abundant supply of natural gas.
Illinois regulators slash gas utility rate hikes, halt controversial pipe-replacement program
(UI) — In a sweeping rebuff of four different utilities, Illinois regulators have sharply curtailed record rate hikes proposed for more than 4 million gas customers across the state, while also blocking most spending on a controversial pipe-replacement program that has fueled a heating affordability crisis for consumers in recent years.
New York Transco's $1.4 billion power line plan receives state nod
(UI) — New York Transco has received the green light from New York State's utilities regulator on Thursday for three transmission projects. As part of this comprehensive project, the developer plans to introduce three new underground cables linking Long Island to the broader state.
Pennsylvania American Water files rate request driven by $1 billion in investment
(UI) — If approved, the company's proposed rates would raise the average monthly water bill by around $17 for residential customers, reduce the monthly wastewater bill for sanitary sewer service by about $5, and increase the monthly wastewater bill for combined sewer service by approximately $4.
Format of public comment meetings for Dakota Access oil pipeline upsets opponents
Opponents of the Dakota Access oil pipeline are taking issue with the format of private oral testimony in meetings for public comment on a draft environmental review of the controversial pipeline.
Senate Democrats examine Pennsylvania's urgent water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure challenges
(UI) — Pennsylvania state senators recently conducted a crucial public hearing at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to address pressing issues concerning water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure that impact communities across the state.
State audit finds thousands of dollars missing or misspent by Dunklin County Sewer District
(UI) — A state audit led to a state police investigation into the Dunklin County Sewer District, according to the office of the Missouri State Auditor.
Navigator cancels proposed Midwestern CO2 pipeline, citing ‘unpredictable’ regulatory processes
A company on Friday said it would cancel its plans for a 1,300-mile (2,092-km) pipeline across five Midwestern states that would have gathered carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants and buried the gas deep underground.
Feds OK gas pipeline expansion in Pacific Northwest over environmentalist protests
The 1,377-mile (2,216-km) pipeline will run from the Canadian border through a corner of Idaho and into Washington state and Oregon, connecting with a pipeline going into California.
Texas to vote on $1 billion water infrastructure proposal
(UI) — Texas voters will have a chance to weigh in on securing safe, clean, and accessible drinking water for communities statewide. Proposition 6 would amend the state constitution to create the Texas Water Fund and provide $1 billion dollars to address aging water infrastructure and gaps in access to clean drinking water.
What’s changed — and what hasn’t — a year after Mississippi capital’s water crisis?
It’s a stark contrast from a year ago, when Jackson’s 150,000 residents could never be sure what, if anything, would flow from their taps when they needed a drink, a shower or to flush the toilet. The majority-Black city also faced occasional warnings that their water could be contaminated and needed to be boiled, and people had to wait in line to get fresh water.
Biden administration wants to count downstream GHG emissions when FERC considers pipeline, power projects
(UI) — The President Biden administration announced its latest effort to throw a wrench in pipeline construction. The Biden Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) wants to rollback Trump administration pro-pipeline changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Ex-Seattle Barrel cleaning manager gets prison time for hiding unlawful sewer dumping
The Seattle Barrel and Cooperage Company ex-plant supervisor has been handed a 30-day prison term and four months of home confinement for concealing illegal sewer discharges.
US military to begin draining leaky fuel tank facility that poisoned Pearl Harbor drinking water
The military next week plans to begin draining fuel from World War II-era underground fuel tanks in Hawaii, nearly two years after the massive facility sickened 6,000 people when it leaked jet fuel into a Pearl Harbor drinking water well.
- 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