Regulatory
Editor's Log: Energy Sanity
During the 2008 national elections, there was much rhetoric about leadership. Unfortunately, in regards to the energy industry, that leadership has failed miserably with no indication of sanity any time soon.
JEA Takes Lead In Proactive Sewer, Water Maintenance
Most major American cities today face multiple challenges to provide basic water and sanitary services.
INGAA Pushes For Limiting ESA Consultation Procedures
Pipeline and other construction industries are pressing the federal government to make it easier for projects to pass muster with the Endangered Species Act.
EPA Takes New Steps To Improve Water Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made available comprehensive reports and data on water enforcement in all 50 states.
Alternative Fuel Choices Limited For Construction Equipment
Alternative fuels, including petroleum based diesel and gasoline with additives, are perceived by many to be a key element in reducing world dependency on oil.
The Price Of Free Money
I read recently that a bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing to raise about $10 billion a year for the rehabilitation of sewer and water systems. The funding sources?
Congress Closer To Approving SRF Boost In 2010
The Senate Appropriations Committee is likely to approve a $3.6 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds in fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1.
August Newsline: Senate panel cuts EPA budget, update on sewer debt crisis
<a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/august-newsline-senate-panel-cuts-epa-budget-update-sewer-debt-crisis#senate">Senate panel cuts EPA budget</a> <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/august-newsline-senate-panel-cuts-epa-budget-update-sewer-debt-crisis?page=2#oversight">Oversight panel sought to end sewer debt crisis</a> <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/august-newsline-senate-panel-cuts-epa-budget-update-sewer-debt-crisis?page=3#epa">EPA admonishes Ohio to fix sewer overflows</a>
John Deere Executive Testifies on Green Transportation
Domenic Ruccolo of John Deere recently testified before the U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming on the benefits of efficient construction equipment.
EPA awards stimulus funds for water infrastructure projects in Washington
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over $41 million to the Washington State Department of Health.
EPA Announces $179 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects in Texas
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over $179 million to the Texas Water Development Board in a bid to provide jobs, improve the local environment and update aging infrastructure.
FERC pushes two projects forward, TransCanada files application for Bison
FERC moved closer to approving construction of one of the three big Oregon LNG projects as well as a major new pipeline in the Southeast.
Questions Arise On SRF Stimulus Funding
Questions are beginning to arise from states and localities about the requirements for spending the water infrastructure funds in the stimulus bill, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
PHMSA Worries About Pipeline Safety, Senate Bill Worries Pipeline Industry
Six months after giving pipelines the green light to use high stress pipelines more widely, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is now highlighting safety concerns with new pipelines operating at 80 percent of specified minimum yield strength (SMYS).
Great Lakes Compact receives highest score in recent report
Watermark Initiative LLC has released a new report titled “U.S. Water Stewardship: A Critical Assessment of Interstate Watershed Agreements.”
NY awarded largest EPA grant in history
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $430 million to New York state for wastewater infrastructure projects, which the EPA says is the single largest grant in its history.
First Look: Software Compares Carbon Footprint Of Trenchless, Open-Cut Construction Methods
Vermeer Corp. has introduced a software tool for estimating the environmental impact of various underground utility construction methods.
Free Money Costs A Fortune
In his proposed 2010 budget, President Obama has proposed a huge increase for sewer and water funding. His budget proposal is $2.4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $1.5 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
New Pressure To Up Water Infrastructure Spending; Broadband Funding Fleshed Out
On the heels of the $6 billion emergency funding in the stimulus package for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, President Obama has proposed a huge increase for both funds in fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1.
Stimulus Package To Hit Sewer/Water Fast
The economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by President Obama on Feb. 17 will unleash a national flood of wastewater and drinking water construction funds with the $4 billion and $2 billion emergency appropriations for the federal Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).
Wellinghoff Named Acting Chairman of FERC
Industry execs with good luck in Vegas might want to put some money down on President Obama eventually eliminating the “acting” adjective he put in front of the title of new FERC “Chairman” Jon Wellinghoff.
What The Stimulus Brings
The stimulus posturing, debating and finagling is now over, a done deal. The dye is cast as to how the money is being allocated; now states/agencies begin the mad dash to grab their fair share of the money. About the only thing undecided at the Federal level is who is going to pay for all this . . .
Trends Of The Illegal Alien Workforce
Immigration attorney Elise Healy cites a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report that as of January 2007, there were estimated to be 7 million illegal Mexican aliens in the United States, up from 4.7 million from 2000.
Workforce: Immigrants Play Key Role In Utility Construction
Over the past several years, foreign-born workers have played an increasingly important role on most types of construction projects, including utility construction.
Last Minute Bush Rule On Endangered Species Could Speed Gas Projects
A last-minute rule from the Bush administration limits the ability of federal wildlife officials and environmentalists to throw a monkey wrench into an application for construction of new gas transmission lines and LNG facilities.
Increased Sewer/Water Funding Headlines Many Changes In Washington
Sewer and drinking water funding has been a back burner issue in Washington for the past decade, as local infrastructure needs have come to a boil. But the economic stimulus package Congress will pass will include substantial funds for water infrastructure.
U.S. Supreme Court wades into water war
The water war between North Carolina and South Carolina may soon go before the nation’s highest court.
EIA Report Says Planned U.S. Pipelines Carry $28 Billion Price Tag
Despite turmoil in the financial markets and oil prices that are the lowest since 2003, the U.S. natural gas industry appears likely to remain one of the stronger performers in the energy sector. Supporting this is the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report, Additions to Capacity on the U.S. Natural Gas Pipeline Network: 2007.
FERC relents on key Issues in final posting rule
FERC walked a fine line with its final rule on natural gas flow posting, reducing the number of intrastate pipelines – called major non interstates for the purpose of this rulemaking – who will have to comply while at the same time ditching a former proposal which interstates had opposed. FERC threw a bone to interstates, too.
Democratic future darkens prospects for LNG approvals
The gas infrastructure conference on Nov. 21 touched on LNG pricing and terminal construction, but never got into the political issues which are likely to bear on FERC’s approval of new LNG terminals.
- 2 workers killed, 1 injured while working on sewer line in Mobile, Ala.
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico
- Tunnel boring continues under Chesapeake Bay for $3.9 billion HRBT Expansion project
- Judge approves construction for key portion of $485 million pipeline in Larimer County, Colo.
- 31 workers rescued after LA tunnel partially collapses
- New products: Latest industry developments
- 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