Regulatory
New Mexico Utility Ordered to Release Documents in Rate Case
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s largest electric utility has been told to publicly release documents that were sealed as it pursues approval from state regulators for a rate increase. Two hearing officers for the Public Regulation Commission ruled this week that the utility failed to show the in..
Ohio EPA Orders Company to Clean up HDD Spills
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s environmental agency is ordering a company building a natural gas pipeline across Ohio to come up with a plan to clean up its spills from drilling and get rid of diesel-soaked mud. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency also wants the state to pursue a proposed fine of ..
Newspaper: New York Had Big Sewer Spill, Didn't Report It on Time
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – New York’s capital city has spilled 4 million gallons (15 million liters) of sewage into the Hudson River in the last two weeks and didn’t meet state requirements for reporting the problem quickly, a newspaper reported. Albany filed notice of the spills with the state ..
Nebraska Wastewater, Water Quality Agencies Joining Forces
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two state agencies that regulate Nebraska’s water are joining forces in an effort to provide more efficient, streamlined services to the public. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Environmental Quality announced the new partnership on Thursda..
Judge Denies Water Crisis Legal Settlement
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A federal judge has declined to grant preliminary approval to a $151 million settlement stemming from a 2014 chemical spill that sparked a water crisis in West Virginia. Local news outlets report Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. said in an order Thursday that he wants changes t..
PHMSA Releases Mobile App for Pipeline Regulations
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has released a new online Code of Federal Regulations (oCFR) mobile application that provides first-ever mobile access to PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Regulations in 49 CFR parts 190-199, which highlights the f..
Construction Budget Held up in Dispute over Water Rights
SEATTLE (AP) — The Legislature averted a partial government shutdown last week by passing a two-year operating budget. But $4 billion in new construction projects and money for a few hundred state jobs still hang in the balance while the capital budget has been held up by a dispute over water rights..
Texas Water Development Board Awards $44 Million for Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved more than $44 million in financial assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the following construction projects: 32,072 for Bracken Christian School of Bulverde. The school will use the financial assistance to cover costs ..
Vermont Utility Regulator Officially Changes Name
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont’s newly named Public Utility Commission says it’s going paperless. The commission, formerly known as the Public Service Board, which regulates utilities, starting using its new name on July 1. On Wednesday, it announced its “declaration of independence” from paper as..
Indiana Takes Action Against County for Sewer Pollution
NEW CASTLE, Ind. (AP) — The state of Indiana has taken action against Henry County after complaints of sewage polluting a creek, residential properties and the grounds of a swimming pool. The Star Press reports (http://tspne.ws/2sCOuC1 ) the Indiana Department of Environmental Management filed a no..
San Francisco Area Water Agencies Move to Expand Reservoir
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A dozen water agencies preparing for the next California drought are moving ahead with an $800 million expansion of one of the largest reservoirs in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Contra Costa Water District, which owns the Los Vaqueros Reservoir, has scheduled six public meet..
Dispute over Dakota Access Handling of Artifacts to Linger
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A dispute over whether the Texas-based developer of the Dakota Access oil pipeline improperly reported the discovery of American Indian artifacts in North Dakota will linger into the fall, as the company continues fighting a relatively minor violation and small fine. Energy Tr..
Utah Residents Weigh in on 50-year Water Plan
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah residents had a chance last week to weigh in on Gov. Gary Herbert’s 50-year water-use plan for the state, which drew both praise and criticism from those gathered. The new long-term state water plan shows Utah officials are still considering an expensive Lake Powell pipel..
West Virginia Water Agency Head to Retire After Ethics Probe
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The head of a West Virginia water agency will retire after an ethics investigation. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that a letter from Gov. Jim Justice’s office says West Virginia Water Development Authority Executive Director Chris Jarrett will step down and reti..
Michigan's Legal Bills for Flint Water Crisis Top $14M
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s legal bills for the man-made water crisis in Flint are piling up. At least $14 million has been spent hiring lawyers from at least 33 law firms, according to an Associated Press analysis of state records. Costs are only expected to balloon as Attorney General Bill S..
NTSB Heading Investigation into Fatal Natural Gas Explosion
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into an apparent natural gas explosion that destroyed a Pennsylvania home and killed a utility worker. The UGI Utilities worker was checking out a reported gas odor when the house in Manor Township, near Lan..
Rhode Island Town to Remove Lead Pipes
North Providence, Rhode Island Mayor Charles Lombardi has announced a pilot program to remove lead water pipes from 563,000 residential properties. The Whole Lead Pipe Program is a partnership between the town of North Providence and Providence Water to replace lead pipes with new, lead-free lines...
129,000 Oil, Gas Lines Identified Near Buildings in Colorado
DENVER (AP) — Colorado has nearly 129,000 underground oil and gas pipelines within about 1,000 feet (300 meters) of occupied buildings, according to energy company reports ordered by the state after a fatal house explosion blamed on a severed gas line. Friday was the deadline for companies to test ..
INGAA President Praises FERC Nomination
Don Santa, president and chief executive officer of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, today praised the White House for announcing its plan to nominate Rich Glick as a commissioner to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. “INGAA applauds the announcement of President Trum..
Trump Announces Another FERC Nominee
President Donald J. Trump has announced his intent to nominate Richard Glick of Virginia to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of a 5-year term expiring June 30, 2022. Glick currently serves as General Counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Comm..
Pennsylvania Governor Approves Funding for 17 Municipal Stormwater Projects
On June 29, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of funding to support to 17 municipal stormwater projects in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. “The convenience we all enjoy with pavement comes with a tangible cost: increased runoff pollution in our local wate..
API Praises Admin Action to Rescind WOTUS Rule
The American Petroleum Institute (API) praised actions taken by the Trump administration earlier this week to rescind the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. “Today’s action by the administration will help spur U.S. job creation by providing the regulatory certainty needed to encourage i..
API Releases 50-State Analysis Of Natural Gas Benefits
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a new study on the benefits natural gas brings to the nation in terms of consumer savings, family-sustaining jobs and economic growth. The study shows that all 50 states benefit from natural gas produced domestically, including non-producing states..
Trial Delay Sought for Former Utility Regulator, 3 Others
PHOENIX (AP) — Trial for a former Arizona utility regulator accused of accepting payments from a water company owner in exchange for a boost in rates will likely be delayed. Federal prosecutors and attorneys for former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce and three others agreed to th..
Application for PennEast Pipeline Closed Over Deficiencies
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey regulators have closed an application for a more than $1 billion natural gas pipeline starting in Pennsylvania and ending in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said Wednesday in a letter to PennEast that its request for a 60-day extensi..
Michigan Sues Flint After Council Refuses to OK Water Deal
LANSING, Mich. (AP) – The state of Michigan sued Flint Wednesday, alleging that the city council’s refusal to approve a broadly backed deal to buy water long term from a Detroit-area system is endangering public health in the wake of a man-made crisis that left the supply contaminated with lead. Th..
Board Orders Review of Vermont Utility Regulation System
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Public Service Board has ordered a review of the state’s utility regulation system saying it wants to make sure it’s equipped to handle modern utilities. The review would include a look at an alternative regulatory model used by Green Mountain Power and Verm..
Trump Administration Moves to Withdraw Obama’s Water Rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration moved Tuesday to roll back an Obama administration policy that protected more than half the nation’s streams from pollution but drew attacks from farmers, fossil fuel companies and property-rights groups as federal overreach. The 2015 regulation sought t..
Texas Town Receives $5.5 Million for Water, Wastewater Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved financial assistance in the amount of $5.5 million, consisting of a $1.6 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a $3.9 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to the city of Gladewater. The assistance provi..
More than $16 Million Awarded for South Dakota Water, Wastewater Projects
The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources has approved more than $16 million for water and wastewater projects. Loans were awarded to the following municipalities: Eagle Butte, $940,000 in two loans, which includes a $670,000 loan for sanitary and storm sewer improv..
- 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