Newsline
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$770 million allocated for rural infrastructure projects including water, internet; Cross-border pipeline to Mexico LNG plant receives regulatory approval; CenterPoint energy sells Louisiana, Mississippi natural gas assets; and more!
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California OKs new rules for turning wastewater into drinking water; CGA’s DIRT report correlates infrastructure investment with increased excavation damage; EIA forecasts 20 Bcf/d boost for U.S. LNG export terminals with new pipelines and more in UI's January Newsline!
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The second tunnel-boring machine has broken through at the future Oak-VGH Station, signaling a new milestone for the Broadway Subway Project.
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Pacific Gas & Electric — one of the nation’s largest utilities whose equipment has sparked some of California’s deadliest wildfires — wants to bury power lines in some of its most at-risk areas to prevent destructive blazes like the 2018 Paradise fire that killed 85 people.
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(UI) — A California-based company was fined $5 million for illegally dumping wastewater in Mississippi; Three people were found dead in a Texas underground tank, with sewer gas suspected as the cause; Caltech research reveals underground fiber optic cables as effective earthquake detectors; and the latest industry developments.
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Chemical manufacturer 3M Co. will pay at least $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over contamination of many U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially harmful compounds used in firefighting foam and a host of consumer products, the company said.
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Daniel Oefner, ENV SP, P.E., Assistant Director for Wastewater Operations at the city of Houston, was the guest speaker at the Underground Construction Technology Association’s Gulf Coast Chapter luncheon on June 7 at Maggiano’s Little Italy, Houston.
Business News
Ring-O-Matic has expanded dealer coverage in several major markets, improving product availability and machine application expertise.
Newsline: Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project starts construction after 60-year wait
Newsline: Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project starts construction after 60-year wait; a DOJ probe finds Alabama ignored sewer issues in impoverished communities; Pittsburgh water rates could increase nearly 60% over next 3 years; and more.
Newsline: US Judge temporarily blocks Biden’s Clean Water Rule in 24 states
Finalized in December, the Clean Water Act rule covering the waters of the United States, known as WOTUS, governs small streams, wetlands and other waterways nationwide. It repeals a Trump administration rule that was thrown out by federal courts.
Newsline: U.S. Appeals Court Reinstates Pro-Infrastructure Water Rule
A U.S. appeals court said a lower court lacked authority to remove a rule established by former President Donald Trump that limited state’s power to deny permits for pipeline projects.
Newsline: Texas Contractor Cited after Worker Killed in Trench Collapse
A Frisco, Texas-based utility contractor failed to follow required workplace safety standards when it allowed two workers to enter a trench with no protection system while repairing a sewer main line, resulting in a collapse and death of one employee, authorities concluded after an investigation. The second worker was able to escape uninjured.
Newsline: Tennessee secures $186 million loan to modernize Chattanooga wastewater infrastructure
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $186 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Chattanooga, Tenn., to help improve its wastewater system’s energy efficiency and resilience to extreme weather.
Newsline: US Justice Department Sues Idaho City over Water Pollution
UC's December Newsline features information about the U.S. Justice Department suing Idaho City over water pollution, Michigan receiving $500 million to rebuild its water infrastructure, federal investigations into public spending on the failing water system in Jackson, Mississippi, and more of the latest industry developments.
Newsline: $40 Million Detroit Project to Increase Capacity in Local, Regional Sewer System
UC's November Newsline features information about a $40 million Detroit project to increase capacity in local, regional sewer systems, a jury decides $10.4 Million award for Portland gas explosion trauma, aging infrastructure that led to E. Coli in Baltimore water, and more of the latest industry developments.
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Vermeer Chair Emeritus, Former CEO Bob Vermeer Dies at 78, Houston-Area Flood Officials Consider $30 Billion Tunnel Project, Primoris Services Corporation Acquires PLH Group for $470 Million, California Submits Proposal for 45-Mile Water Tunnel and more.
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U.S. Interior Earmarks $1.7 Billion Tribal Water Settlements U.S. Department of Interior announced that it will use $1.7 billion from the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill to fund 16 tribal water rights settlements. The funds are to pay for infrastructure that provides access to water t..
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San Diego Accelerates Pace of Utility Undergrounding San Diego officials have approved a plan to accelerate the relocation and burial of every residential overhead utility line in the city underground. The new deal with San Diego Gas & Electric creates a citizens’ oversight panel for undergroun..
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New Jersey Announces $1 Billion Water Infrastructure Plan New Jersey unveiled initial plans for $1 billion in federal funds for new drinking and wastewater infrastructure over the next five years. The new cash infusion is “exciting,” and amounts to a “once-in-a-generation” investment, said Depar..
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Michels Completes 15,000+ Foot HDD Crossing Michels completed a 15,426-foot horizontal directional drill (HDD) of a 24-inch pipe crossing of Lake Sakakawea on the Missouri River in North Dakota, extending the limits of trenchless construction. The crossing is part of a new pipeline being constru..
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NTSB: Crew Safety Failure Led to San Francisco Natural Gas Fire An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that an excavation crew from Kilford Engineering Inc. failed to follow safety procedures which led to a 2019 natural gas release and fire in San Francisco...
Excavation-Related Damages to Utilities Cost the U.S. Approximately $30 Billion in 2019
A Common Ground Alliance study on 2019 damage reporting found that an estimated 532,000 excavation-related damages to underground facilities occurred in the United States in 2019.
API Fact-Checks Presidential Debate Energy Positions
Responding with a fact-check of the presidential debate, API called for bipartisan solutions that do not force a false choice between protecting the environment and growing the U.S. economy.
Biden Calls for ‘Transition’ from Oil
Democrat Joe Biden’s remark that he would “transition” away from oil in the U.S. in favor of renewable energy drew quick attention Thursday night from President Donald Trump, who saw it as a boon to his election chances in key states.
Explosion at Thai PTT Gas Line Kills Three, Injures 28
A gas pipeline exploded in Thailand on Thursday killing three people and injuring 28.
Kleinfelder Completes Acquisition of Gas Transmission Systems
San Diego-based Kleinfelder Group said it has acquired utilities and pipeline services firm Gas Transmission Systems (GTS) for an undisclosed sum.
USDA Awards Alaska Utility $22 Million for Fiber Installation
Alaska Power & Telephone Company has been awarded $21.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to install more than 200 miles of fiber optic cable in rural Alaska.
CGA Report Reveals Utility Damages Cost U.S. $30 Billion in 2019
The 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report compiled by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) revealed that excavation-related damages to utilities cost the U.S. approximately $30 billion last year.
Oregon City Completes In-Pipe Hydropower Project
The City of Hillsboro, Ore., has completed a project that generates electricity by harvesting excess pressure from a city water pipeline.
$56M Settlement Approved in Massachusetts Gas Explosions
A $56 million settlement has been approved in the case regarding a series of natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts in 2018.
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
- Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
- Ditch Witch 1030
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- Indiana American Water to gain 8,000 water customers with Silver Creek Water acquisition
- Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
- Federal judge finds Flint, Mich, in contempt over lead water pipe crisis