Regulatory
APWA Honors Top 10 Public Works Professionals
The American Public Works Association earlier this month announced the 2017 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year. APWA’s Top Ten Public Works Leaders are recognized for the career service achievements of public works professionals. This year marks the 57th anniversary of the Top Ten Leader..
Texas Oil and Gas Regulator Can Operate for 12 More Years
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 1818, which reauthorizes the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state’s oil and gas regulator, to operate for another 12 years. A committee of lawmakers, known as the Sunset Commission, is in charge of reviewing the agency. In 2016, the Railroad Commissio..
Corporation Commission Rejects Utilities' Plea for More Time
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Corporation Commission won’t allow Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy extra time to renegotiate a new merger. After the commission in April rejected the proposed merger, the two companies filed a petition asking for extra time to revise the deal to meet commi..
Minnesota Officials Lower Chemical Limits in Drinking Water
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota health officials have lowered exposure limits for some chemicals that have been in drinking water in the east metro area and Bemidji. The chemicals are known as PFOA and PFOS and were used at a 3M manufacturing site and dumped at sites in Washington County. ..
Missouri Lawmakers to Discuss Utilities Bills
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri House committee on Tuesday will begin considering legislation that Gov. Eric Greitens and supporters have called a job creator, but that critics call a veiled attempt to make it easier for investor-owned utilities companies to raise rates. The proposal allows s..
Few Pipeline Inspection Results After Fatal Colorado Gas Blast
DENVER (AP) — Colorado regulators say few energy companies have reported the results of state-ordered inspections of oil and gas pipelines after a natural gas explosion killed two people. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Director Matt Lepore warned Tuesday the state could order operator..
New York Providing $10M for Lake Ontario Flooding Recovery
GREECE, N.Y. (AP) — The state is making $10 million in funding available to New York municipalities dealing with flooding along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that the funds will support flood recovery efforts such as repairing break walls, roads, culverts and public..
Pennsylvania American Water Files Request to Replace Lead Service Lines
Pennsylvania American Water has filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking permission to replace customer-owned lead service lines when removing company-owned lead service lines – and to bear the full cost of replacement. Pennsylvania American Water’s proposal allots $6 ..
New York American Water Rate Increase Approved
The New York State Public Service Commission has approved new rates for New York American Water, effective June 1, 2017. The PSC’s rate order reflects an annual revenue increase of $3.6 million for New York American Water’s service areas in Long Island and the Hudson Valley after a 13-month review o..
Illinois Owes $3.5 Million in Utility Bills
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The state is again racking up unpaid utility bills for its Springfield offices as Illinois nears two years without a full budget. Illinois owes about $3.5 million in past-due payments to City Water, Light and Power, City Water, Light and Power spokeswoman Amber Sabin ..
AWWA Testifies on Potential Safe Drinking Water Act Improvements
In a U.S. House subcommittee hearing today, the American Water Works Association testified that updates to the Safe Drinking Water Act are overdue and necessary to assist communities with water infrastructure and compliance challenges. Speaking before the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Environment ..
Senators Introduce Legislation to Address America's Aging Infrastructure
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), senior members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, have introduced bipartisan legislation to bring affordable relief to America’s crumbling water infrastructure systems. The bill, S. 1137 – Clean, Safe, Reliable Water Infr..
New Hampshire Senate Passes House Bill on Water Contaminants
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – The New Hampshire state Senate has passed a House bill aimed at better protecting residents from chemicals in their water. The Portsmouth Herald reports a key amendment requires the state Department of Environmental Services to start a rulemaking process to set maximum contamin..
Flint City Council Blocks Use of Tax Liens for Unpaid Water Bills
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The Flint City Council has blocked a plan that would have put about 8,000 property owners at risk of losing homes due to unpaid water and sewer bills. Plans for the tax liens on properties across Flint drew protests amid the city’s crisis with lead-tainted water. City Council on..
More Old Sewer Ponds in Texas Being Made Into Wetlands
SAN BENITO, Texas (AP) — More old sewer ponds in a South Texas city are being turned into wetlands to help clean the waters of the Arroyo Colorado. The Valley Morning Star reported Wednesday that the city plans to fill 10 new ponds in the area targeted for a nature park. Officials say Sa..
West Virginia Senators Urge Appalachian Natural Gas Hub
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s U.S. senators are urging federal officials to consider building a major natural gas storage and distribution hub in the Appalachian region. In a letter Thursday to National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, the senators say the White House should examine ..
New York Launches $3 Million Pilot Program to Help Cities Improve Sewer Systems Operations
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos and Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Sabrina M. Ty have selected 10 municipalities to participate in the Municipal Sewage System Asset Management Program, a new $3 million pilot program to help im..
Ohio EPA Releases Draft 2018 Drinking Water Assistance Program Management Plan
The Ohio EPA will hold two public hearings on Friday, June 16, 2017, to accept comments on the draft 2018 Program Management Plan for the agency’s Drinking Water Assistance Fund. The fund provides financial and technical assistance for a variety of projects that help improve or protect the quality o..
New York OKs $62M in Grants, Loans for Local Water Projects
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state is making $62 million available to help local governments upgrade their sewer systems and drinking water infrastructure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the investments on Thursday. The money will go to eight different municipal governments in the form of grants..
NTSB Joins Investigation into Fatal Gas Pipeline Explosion
FIRESTONE, Colo. (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board has joined the investigation into a fatal Colorado house explosion blamed on unrefined natural gas flowing from a severed pipeline. The Longmont Times-Call reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/2r2W8Rz) the agency got involved because pip..
Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association Supports New York Water Infrastructure Bill
The Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association recently praised New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for his commitment to restoring the quality of the state’s water infrastructure following the signing of the Clean Water Infrastructure Improvement Act. “We applaud Governor Cuomo and the New York State l..
Report: Puerto Rico Has Worst Drinking Water Violation Rate of Any U.S. Jurisdiction
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has the worst rate of drinking water violations of any U.S. jurisdiction, with dangerous contaminants ranging from lead to disinfectants to coliform bacteria, an environmental group said Wednesday. Nearly the entire island was supplied ..
Judge Approves Partial Settlement in Water Lawsuit
DECATUR, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge has approved a partial settlement in a lawsuit over contaminated drinking water in north Alabama. The Decatur Daily (http://bit.ly/2q6ooEA ) reports that U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon has approved a $5 million payment by Daikin America to end its part of the ..
$31 Million Awarded for Texas Water, Wastewater Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has awarded more than $31 million in financial assistance for water and wastewater system projects. The projects receiving funding include: $2,333,300 to Rolling Hills Water Service for the replacement of water lines. $15 million to the Crystal Clear Spe..
President Trump to Nominate Two New FERC Members
President Trump has announced he intends to nominate Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to fill existing FERC vacancies, for terms expiring June 30, 2021, and June 30, 2020, respectively. Chatterjee currently serves as energy policy advisor to United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell o..
Mississippi Regulator Links to Utility Employment Pages
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The agency that regulates Mississippi utilities says people looking for work can now go to its website for links to dozens of utilities’ employment pages. Public Service Commissioner Cecil Brown says every community in the state needs well-qualified utility workers, and ..
Senate Upholds Methane Emissions Rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — Environmentalists notched a rare win in the Republican-led Senate on Wednesday as a GOP effort to reverse an Obama-era rule restricting harmful methane emissions unexpectedly failed. The 51-49 vote against the repeal measure was a blow to the fossil-fuel industry and groups linked..
Massachusetts Honors Public Water Systems
As part of “National Drinking Water Week,” the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection yesterday announced 55 recipients of its annual Public Water Systems Awards. The awards, presented since 1991, acknowledge the many dedicated drinking water professionals whose accomplishments in main..
Ohio EPA Fines Pipeline Builder
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s environmental regulators have issued a $430,000 fine against a company building a natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to Michigan. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency says the fines stem from water and air pollution violations at a number of locations. State o..
Oklahoma Passes Law Against Pipeline Trespassing, Vandalism
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma has adopted a law that imposes steep fines or prison time against people convicted of trespassing at a critical infrastructure facility to impede operations. The Oklahoman reports that the measure went into effect Wednesday after being signed by Gov. Mary Fallin. Anyo..
- 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