September 2024 Vol. 79 No. 9
Newsline
Newsline September 2024
Texas oil pipelines near max capacity, threatening future export limits
Crude oil pipelines linking Texas's top oil fields to a key export hub are nearing maximum capacity, which could soon limit U.S. oil exports, according to Yahoo Finance.
Pipelines transporting crude from the Permian Basin to Corpus Christi are already over 90 percent full, with projections from East Daley Analytics suggesting they could reach up to 95 percent capacity by late 2025.
As the U.S. ramps up crude oil production, driven by the Permian Basin, getting this oil to global markets will be increasingly difficult without additional pipeline space, according to Yahoo Finance. If exports slow, it could lead to an oversupply in the U.S. and tighter supplies globally, especially as demand rises due to disruptions like Russia's war in Ukraine.
Some oil might be diverted to Houston, easing the pressure on Corpus Christi. Additionally, Enbridge Inc.'s planned expansion of its Gray Oak pipeline could help, but even with an increase of 120,000 barrels per day, overall capacity in the region may remain tight.
EPA blames state for Jackson water crisis, cites inadequate oversight
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a critical report highlighting the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) failures in overseeing Jackson’s water system, which contributed to the 2022 water crisis impacting 150,000 residents.
According to the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), as reported by The Hill, the MSDH's inspections from 2015 to 2021 failed to adequately document or communicate critical issues in Jackson’s water system.
The report points out that the MSDH’s lack of proper enforcement and reporting led to a gap in the EPA’s understanding of the water system’s operational problems. This oversight allowed issues to accumulate, culminating in the system’s breakdown. Specifically, violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act from 2016 and 2017 were not reported promptly, and enforcement actions were delayed for over four years.
Furthermore, a 2015 report revealed that lead levels in water samples exceeded safety thresholds, but Jackson was not informed until January 2016. The OIG has recommended that the EPA enhance its sanitary survey methods and update its guidance on the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA has agreed to these recommendations.
The crisis, triggered by flooding of the Pearl River that disabled Jackson’s main water treatment facility, left residents without clean water for an extended period. The city’s demographic shifts and political conflicts have compounded the situation. Following the crisis, the EPA referred Jackson to the Justice Department, resulting in the appointment of a third-party manager to address the situation.
League City, Texas, advances $308 million in major water, sewer upgrades
League City, Texas, is making strides in upgrading its water and wastewater infrastructure as part of its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY2024-2028.
The city has allocated $184.42 million to enhance its water system, the largest program in this period, and $123.68 million for wastewater improvements.
The city operates a comprehensive network of ten booster pump stations, four elevated storage tanks, nine groundwater wells, two wastewater treatment plants, 76 lift stations, and extensive water and sewer mains.
Key projects underway include:
• 36-Inch Water Transmission Main: A 17,730-foot water supply line is being installed from the SH 3 Booster Pump Station to the South Shore Harbor Water Storage and Booster Pump Station. This project will enhance water supply redundancy on the city’s east side.
• Willow Branch & FM 518 Sewer Line Replacement: Upgrades are being made to increase the capacity of the sanitary sewer lines along FM 518 and Washington Street.
• Pecan Forest and Highland Terrace Waterline Replacement: Approximately 23,000 feet of aging waterlines are being replaced across several neighborhoods.
• Mary Lane and Tallow Forest Service Area Connection: This project will connect existing waterlines to the city system, previously managed by WCID #1.
Bidding and upcoming projects:
• Jarbo Bayou Force Main Replacement: A trenchless construction method will replace the existing force main to prevent potential contamination of the Bayou. Bids are in, and the construction contract is expected to be awarded in September.
• East Main 24-inch Force Main Replacement: A critical sewer line along FM 2094 is set for replacement due to severe deterioration. The bidding process is expedited, with construction awards expected in September.
Ongoing Design Work: Several projects are in various stages of design, including the expansion of the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility, which will double its capacity to serve the city’s growing needs, and the rehabilitation of the Dallas Salmon WWTP Influent Wet Well.
Philadelphia’s “Green” stormwater management under fire as sewer overflows increase
Philadelphia's "Green City, Clean Waters" program, launched in 2011, aimed to manage stormwater primarily through green infrastructure like rain gardens and porous pavements. This approach positioned the city as a leader in urban stormwater management, particularly as climate change has made heavy rainfall more common, according to Yale Environment 360.
However, with the increasing intensity of storms, critics argue that Philadelphia's reliance on green infrastructure alone is proving insufficient. Despite the initiative, sewer overflows have increased, with an average of 14 billion gallons of polluted stormwater being released annually.
In contrast, cities like Milwaukee, Boston, and Alexandria are adopting a more balanced approach, combining green infrastructure with traditional gray infrastructure, such as underground pipes, tunnels, and holding tanks.
Philadelphia’s Water Department acknowledges the growing challenges posed by climate change, projecting a 9.5 percent increase in annual rainfall by 2050. However, the department is hesitant to adjust its Green City, Clean Waters plan until more long-term data is available.
Enterprise Products Partners Acquire 50 Miles of Permian Gas Pipelines in $950 Million Piñon Midstream Deal
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is acquiring Piñon Midstream, LLC, a portfolio company of Black Bay Energy Capital, in a debt-free transaction for $950 million. Piñon Midstream provides natural gas gathering and treating services in the core of the prolific eastern flank of the Delaware Basin in New Mexico and Texas.
Piñon Midstream’s assets include approximately 50 miles of natural gas gathering and redelivery pipelines, five 3-stage compressor stations, 270 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) of existing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide treating facilities with an expansion to 450 MMcf/d of capacity expected to be completed in the second half of 2025, and two of the highest capacity and deepest acid gas injection (“AGI”) wells in the basin. As part of this transaction, Enterprise is evaluating locations for a third injection well that would support up to 750 MMcf/d of total treating capacity.
Kinetic launches investigation into underground fiber optic cable theft in Hazard, Ky.
Kinetic is working with local law enforcement and other agencies after an incident of vandalism that occurred in August in Hazard, Ky.
This vandalism caused significant disruptions to local telecommunications services, impacting both residential and business customers across the region. The underground fiber optic cable has since been repaired. This comes on the heels of more than 66 copper cable thefts throughout the area this year alone.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the vandalism took place Aug. 8-9, affecting fiber-optic infrastructure that supports local communications services. The incident not only disrupted communication but also posed safety risks to the community by limiting access to emergency services and other vital operations that rely on constant connectivity, according to Susan Schraibman, Kentucky’s regional operations president for Kinetic.
When Kinetic technicians were alerted to the outage, an initial investigation determined that multiple cuts were made to underground fiber optic cable likely because vandals assumed it was copper and intended to steal it, melt it, and sell the copper for scrap. This malicious act has caused widespread service interruption and safety risks throughout the surrounding area.
In response to the continued vandalism and thefts across Kentucky, Kinetic has worked with multiple agencies and law enforcement to implement measures to enhance security.
Lynchburg, Va., begins work on $400 million Blackwater CSO tunnel
Construction has started on the Blackwater CSO Tunnel, the largest capital improvement project in Lynchburg's history. This project, known as LYHBeyond, aims to significantly enhance water quality by preventing wastewater and stormwater from overflowing into local waterways during heavy rain.
The nearly mile-long, 12-foot diameter tunnel will be built 70 to 120 feet below Blackwater Creek. It will have the capacity to collect and store up to 4.7 million gallons of combined wastewater and stormwater. The tunnel will stretch from a new CSO 52 Drop Shaft facility near Hollins Mill Road along the Point of Honor Trail to a downtown pump station being constructed at the bottom of Seventh Street near the Langley Fountain.
Atkinson Construction was awarded the contract for the tunnel and began mobilizing at the Seventh Street site in July. Drill-and-blast excavation will be used later to clear the tunnel’s path, which will cause some construction noise and temporary closures of the Point of Honor Trail.
Lynchburg Water Resources Director Tim Mitchell emphasized the project’s significance, noting that it represents the culmination of over 40 years of work and a $400 million investment to restore water quality in Lynchburg's streams and the James River. The project is expected to take three years to complete.
$90 Million drinking water investment replaces 9,500 lead service lines in Detroit
Since 2022, Detroit, Mich., has received $90 million in federal funding to help replace lead pipes, including $85 million distributed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy, and a $5 million EPA grant awarded under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.
Recent federal funding has rapidly accelerated the city’s lead service line replacement program. Since 2018, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has replaced nearly 9,500 lead service lines. Over half of those – nearly 5,000 – have been replaced in 2024.
Detroit’s lead service line replacement program uses a neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach, prioritizing vulnerable areas such as communities with a high density of low-income households, children and seniors, and housing built prior to 1945. Not only does the program have a critical public health benefit, but it also helps create jobs for the local economy.
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