Regulatory
OSHA reestablishes full protection for demolition and underground construction
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a direct final rule that applies the requirements of the August 2010 cranes and derricks in construction standard to demolition work and underground construction, the agency revealed in mid-August.
Obama Drilling Expansion In Alaska Falls Short For Some
ConocoPhillips Alaska, among the most active companies exploring for oil and gas in northern Alaska, found a lot not to like in the Obama administration decision in mid-August with regard to development of the 22.8 million acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Tighter EPA Soot Standard Could Complicate Underground Construction
Companies who do underground construction will be affected -- and not in a good way -- if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes ahead with its proposal to tighten its particulate matter air emissions standard, referred to as the PM2.5 standard (2.5 indicates the size of the particle).
Pilot program designed for construction stormwater permitting
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation recently announced a new pilot program designed to build efficiencies in how construction stormwater permits are issued, while satisfying the permit requirements at both the state and local levels and improving overall water quality.
Framework helps modernize EPA's implementation of Clean Water Act
The U.S. Conference of Mayors welcomes the release of EPA's Integrated Planning Framework for implementing the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Framework, (also known as IP3), is designed to promote greater flexibility for cities struggling to finance and maintain existing wastewater infrastructure and services and respond to new federal regulations that expand city responsibilities, such as costly control of stormwater and sewer overflows.
Perth Amboy accepts EPA order to end sewer overflow
City officials in Perth Amboy, NJ, agreed in federal court on June 7 to make $5.4 million in sewer improvements to end the release of millions of gallons of sewage into the Raritan River and Arthur Kill each year during heavy rains.
FERC approves New York/New Jersey Pipeline
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a Spectra pipeline project which will bring new natural gas supplies to New York City. Spectra subsidiaries Texas Eastern and Algonquin will combine to build the new capacity, which will involve about 20 miles of pipeline, among other construction, such as compressor stations, with the total project weighing in at about $850 million. Texas Eastern and Algonquin hope to have the gas flowing into Manhattan by November 2013.
Long-term investments ensure energy supplies; generate jobs and economic growth
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl recently recognized NiSource Inc. for its pipeline infrastructure modernization and replacement investment.
Tier 4 Impacts Welders, Equipment
Upcoming changes to diesel engine-driven welders have become a subject of recent discussion throughout the welding industry in light of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Obama Administration Makes Two Regulatory Moves On Oil, Gas Operations
The Obama administration took its first two regulatory steps -- one final, one tentative -- toward guarding against air and ground water pollution from fracking.
Recent Developments Encouraging For The Re-Examination Of Styrene’s Designated Status
For more than a year, the styrene industry and professional organizations that represent its varied interests have focused on challenging efforts to designate styrene as a “reasonably anticipated carcinogen” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Editor's Log: Acts Of Nature
By now, most people in North America – indeed, around the world – are well aware of the growing energy treasure trove being discovered in shale rock.
Water agencies urge no cuts to SRFs
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and six national water groups sent a letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to reject the offered reductions to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and to maintain funding for these two key clean water programs at the FY12 levels.
New Federal Water Infrastructure Funding Mechanism Proposed
With congressional funding of the state revolving funds likely to continue to decline, water infrastructure groups are pushing an alternative funding mechanism -- meant to serve as a supplement to the SRFs, not a replacement -- called a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Fund.
EPA issues permit for storm water discharges from construction sites
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a new permit, in accordance with the Clean Water Act, that will provide streamlined permitting to thousands of construction operators, while protecting our nation's waterways from discharges of polluted storm water from construction sites.
Obama 2013 Budget Boosts PMHSA, Cuts Clean Water, SRF
Obama administration budget requests for fiscal 2013 for key pipeline regulatory and construction programs are working their way through congressional appropriation committees. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) would receive new funding for additional inspectors, allowing the agency to do more intensive inspections of pipeline safety.
PHMSA Considering Additional Pipeline Safety Changes
With Congress having passed a pipeline safety bill last December, you'd think the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has plenty to do implementing that law during 2012.
Wichita gets grant for storm sewer project
EPA has awarded $123,000 to the city of Wichita, KS, for improvements to its storm sewer system. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2012.
U.S. Clean Water Act settlement in Chicago to reduce sewage overflows
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the state of Illinois announced a Clean Water Act (CWA) settlement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to resolve claims that untreated sewer discharges were released into Chicago area waterways during flood and wet weather events.
EPA awards grant to Missouri city for sewer project
EPA has awarded $1,455,000 to the city of Lee’s Summit, MO, for improvements to its sewer system. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2014.
Surviving An Exceptional Funding Drought
As last summer’s drought conditions wore on, I learned that there is a condition even worse than “extreme.” There is an “exceptional” drought category, which essentially means “pending devastation if you don’t get rain fast.” The impact of this drought, when finally broken, will be felt for years.
Rule Changes, Proposals Could Prove Significant For 2012 Underground Market
The One-Call and excavation damage provisions included in the new pipeline safety bill passed by Congress in December will trigger a number of state and federal responses in 2012. However, a rule allowing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to impose civil penalties on excavators -- ordered by the 2006 pipeline safety bill but never finalized -- would be even more significant. A proposed rule moving that requirement forward is expected this year, finally, perhaps as early as this winter.
Pipeline VOC Emission Limits Soon To Be Finalized; EPA Makes Changes To Pipeline GHG Reporting Rule
Natural gas transmission companies are very unhappy with the EPA's decision to tighten industry air emission limits. A consent decree signed by the EPA requires the agency to revise both New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for the natural gas industry, including for pipelines, by the end of February. Those are two separate EPA regulatory programs.
Birmingham Water Works tries to reassure customers
The Birmingham Water Works Board is distancing itself from Jefferson County’s financial woes following a filing on Nov. 9 of the largest government bankruptcy in U.S. history, according to an article in The Birmingham News.
Upgrade water system, create nearly 1.9 million jobs
Want to create nearly 1.9 million American jobs and add $265 billion to the economy? Upgrade our water and wastewater infrastructure. That’s the message of a new report released by Green For All, in partnership with American Rivers, the Economic Policy Institute and the Pacific Institute. The Rockefeller Foundation generously provided funding for the project.
EPA Develops Planning Approach To Improve Water Quality In Cities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a commitment to using an integrated planning process to help local governments dealing with difficult financial conditions identify opportunities to achieve clean water by controlling and managing releases of wastewater and stormwater runoff more efficiently and cost effectively.
Integrity Management Expansion Stirs Controversy In Congress
Two House committees are attempting to combine slightly different pipeline safety bills while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is preventing a Senate vote on a bill passed by the Commerce Committee last May. All three bills are moderate, and make changes around the edges of current law, both with regard to natural gas and oil pipelines.
U.S. Labor Dept. improves Whistleblower Protection Program
In a continuing effort to improve the Whistleblower Protection Program, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it is implementing additional measures to strengthen the program and is releasing an internal report detailing a recent review of the program.
Atlanta gets A1 rating on water/wastewater bonds
Moody's Investors Service, one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies, affirmed in July Atlanta, GA’s A1 rating on the city’s $3.2 billion water and wastewater revenue bonds.
Disaster aid for Kane County, IL, infrastructure projects
Kane County, IL, has been awarded more than $2.27 million in federal disaster aid for five infrastructure projects aimed at alleviating chronic flooding. The federal funding is part of the Illinois “IKE” Disaster Recovery Program established in the wake of Hurricane Ike in Sept. 2008.
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
- Major water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers
- Potomac River Tunnel project enters construction phase beneath Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Army Corps approves Enbridge's $500 million Line 5 Tunnel project
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- Utah city launches historic $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
- Tulsa residents warned after sewer lines damaged by boring work
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized