Regulatory
Ruling on Dakota Access Pipeline Shutdown Months Away
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge won’t decide until later this year whether to shut down the disputed Dakota Access oil pipeline while federal officials conduct a more thorough environmental review. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Wednesday approved a schedule under which both sides in a..
Trade Associations Send Letter Urging Senate to Approve FERC Nominees
30 trade associations have sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schemer imploring them to act promptly to restore a quorum at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In the letter, the associations claim that because FERC has lacked a quorum for..
Settlement Approved in 2016 Seattle Natural Gas Explosion
SEATTLE (AP) — The state’s largest energy utility will pay at least $1.5 million for a natural gas explosion in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood last year. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Monday approved a settlement between Puget Sound Energy and commission staff reached ..
Report: New York Should Do More to Protect Drinking Water
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A new report from New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli concludes that state officials can do more to protect residents from drinking water contamination. The findings are part of an analysis released by DiNapoli’s office on Monday. They come after potentially harmful industrial ..
Agencies Issue Public Advisory Due to Sewer Bypass
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have jointly issued an Advisory for the Missouri River downstream from the confluence of Papillion Creek and the Missouri River south of Omaha. The..
Michigan Governor Defends Cabinet Members Charged in Flint Water Crisis
LANSING, Mich. (AP) – An apologetic Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was largely silent last year when criminal charges were brought against state officials over Flint’s man-made drinking water crisis, except to say some “bureaucrats” had failed residents and that he was focused on the city’s recovery. No..
Republicans Ready Regulatory Relief for Pipelines
It looks like, based on two recent hearings, that GOP members of the House are focused on providing the pipeline industry with regulatory relief as part of any infrastructure bill which comes before Congress. One House committee held hearings in May on a discussion draft of legislation containing ch..
Plastics Pipe Institute Shows Support for Trump's “Construction of American Pipelines” Memorandum
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc., the major trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry, today released a statement echoing comments made by several national associations representing the oil and gas pipeline industry in support of President Trump’s objective to increas..
Official Hopes Charges in Flint Water Crisis Help Return Trust
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — In a battered city where many still refuse to bathe in tap water, much less drink it, the prosecution of officials accused of letting Flint’s public supply become contaminated with toxic lead and failing to warn of deadly bacteria represents a tentative step toward restoring trus..
California to Require Utilities to Plug Gas Leaks Big and Small
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California regulators adopted a stricter rule Thursday that requires utilities to plug leaks in natural gas lines. The rule adopted by California Public Utilities Commission aims to cut 40 percent of the potent greenhouse gases emitted from leaking pipes and gas distribution syst..
Agencies Delay Methane Rules Opposed by Oil, Gas Industry
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is delaying two Obama-era regulations aimed at restricting harmful methane emissions from oil and gas production. The Environmental Protection Agency said it is seeking a two-year delay for oil and gas companies to follow a new rule requiring them to monit..
West Virginia American Water Seeks Infrastructure Rate Hike
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia American Water Co. has asked state regulators to endorse infrastructure improvements that would boost the average residential customer’s bill by $1.04 per month. The company’s application was filed Thursday with the Public Service Commission. The company says..
Utility Earns National Safety Award
For the second straight year, Florida Public Utilities Company, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, has received a Safety Achievement Award from the American Gas Association for excellence in employee safety. The selection was based on criteria that included professional and person..
Nearly 600 Rural Organizations Sign Letter Opposing Elimination of USDA Sewer, Water Programs
Nearly 600 organizations have signed a letter to Congress opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate the Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The letter also criticizes the elimination of the Rural Water and Wastewater Loans and Grant..
Judge: Redo Part of Analysis for Dakota Access Pipeline
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has handed a lifeline to efforts to block the Dakota Access pipeline, ruling Wednesday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn’t adequately consider the possible impacts of an oil spill where the pipeline passes under the Missouri River. U.S. District Judge Jam..
Regulators to Investigate Water Utility in Bribery Scheme
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Corporation Commission has voted to review the rates, operations and finances of a San Tan Valley water utility company connected with an alleged bribery scheme. The commission will also have a consultant look at a 2013 policy change that allowed 28 utilities officials ..
New Mexico Utility Executive Elected to Lead Industry Group
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A national association that represents investor-owned electric companies has elected its first woman to serve as chairman of the board. The Edison Electric Institute announced the election of Pat Vincent-Collawn on Tuesday during its annual convention in Boston. Vincent-Col..
Wisconsin Lawmakers Scale Back Lead Pipe Replacement Program
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Legislators have scaled back a bill that would create grants and loans to help people replace lead water pipes. The bill would allow water utilities to provide grants or loans to people subject to local government and state regulators approval. The utilities would be allowed to..
West Virginia's Senators Urge Appalachian Natural Gas Hub
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s U.S. senators have introduced legislation intended to help establish a major natural gas storage and distribution hub in the Appalachian region. Their legislation would designate it a “critical energy infrastructure” project, which they say would make ..
Texas Town Receives Nearly $5 Million for Replacement of Water, Wastewater Pipelines
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved, by resolution, financial assistance in the amount of $4.81 million, consisting of a $2.2 million loan and $200,000 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a $2.4 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund..
Dallas Gets $330 Million to Finance Water, Wastewater Pipeline Replacement Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved financial assistance in the amount of $330 million, consisting of a $220 million multi-year loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and a $110 million multi-year loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to the city of Dallas to h..
INGAA President Urges Quick Confirmation of FERC Nominees
Don Santa, president and chief executive officer of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, yesterday lauded the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s decision to “report out” favorably the nominations of Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to serve as members of the Federal..
Utility's Water Quality Surpasses Regulatory Standards
According to results published in Illinois American Water’s 2016 Consumer Confidence Report, the company’s water quality surpassed regulatory standards. “The reports show that we continue to supply water to our customers that is of higher quality than required by state and federal standards,” said ..
Lawmakers Tout Plan to Ensure Safe Drinking Water in Schools
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — Two federal lawmakers from New Jersey are touting legislation that would help schools test water for lead and replace outdated water infrastructure. Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Josh Gottheimer were at Hackensack High School on Monday to discuss the proposed “Get the Lead Out o..
Environmental Groups Sue over Pipeline Permitting Decisions
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Several environmental groups are suing the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality over part of the permitting process for two proposed natural gas pipelines. The Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, Bold Alliance and Preserve Craig Inc. filed suit this week in Richmond..
No Higher Incidence of Cancer in Village with Tainted Water
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — No higher incidences of certain types of cancer linked to the toxic chemical PFOA were found in an upstate New York village whose water supplies were contaminated by the chemical, state health officials said in a report released Wednesday. The Department of Health said its inves..
Top Virginia Environmental Official Defends Pipeline Reviews
BOLAR, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s top environmental official insists the state is going “above and beyond” in evaluating the water quality impacts of two proposed natural gas pipelines. Department of Environmental Quality Director David Paylor made the comments in an interview with The Associated Press ..
Illinois Town Starts Second Year of Water-loss Reduction Program
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Rockford has 1.3 billion gallons of water it cannot account for each year. The Rockford Register Star reports (http://bit.ly/2ssgynG ) that city workers will embark this week on the second year of a program to reduce water loss. Rockford’s water division in 2016 pumped and tr..
Ex-Regulator Pleads Not Guilty in Influence-peddling Case
PHOENIX (AP) — A former elected Arizona utility regulator pleaded not guilty Wednesday to bribery and fraud charges accusing him of accepting thousands of dollars in payments from a water company owner in exchange for favorable treatment in a rate case. Former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary ..
Former Utility Regulator to be Arraigned on Bribery Charge
PHOENIX (AP) – Former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce is scheduled to be arraigned on bribery and fraud charges in what prosecutors say was a scheme to accept payments from a water company owner in exchange for favorable treatment in a utility rate case. Arraignments also are scheduled..
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- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico
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- 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