Magazine
Australian Fiber-Optics to Bring High-Speed Internet to East Timor
Australia has agreed to provide the fledgling democracy of East Timor with naval infrastructure and an undersea internet link with the world, responding to China’s increasing influence in the region.
Caterpillar’s ‘Dream Dozer’ Campaign Generates Interest, Leads for D6 XE
In conjunction with introducing its D6 XE electric drive dozer, Caterpillar, a leading manufacturer of heavy equipment for the construction and mining industry, launched the Dream Dozer campaign. Using KBMax’s product configurator, this interactive design game allows users to create their own “dream” version of the D6XE.
Sewage Dumping Caused No Contamination at South Dakota Airport
State regulators say Rapid City Regional Airport did not cause contamination when it dumped about 74,000 gallons of sewage on its property without a permit.
Xylem Earns Change the World Honor
Global water technology company, Xylem, was included on Fortune’s 2019 “Change the World” list, for a second, consecutive year.
APA Group Completes Gas Pipeline, Brisbane River Crossing
APA Group said it has completed the installation of a gas pipeline in Australia that included a 300-foot (905-meter) crossing under the Brisbane River.
Michigan Offers Grants for Rural Industry, Infrastructure
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants supporting land-based industries and infrastructure that benefit rural communities.
Rising Demand for Sewer Inspection Drives Growing Crawler Camera Sales
A new market report projects worldwide demand for crawler cameras used in sewer inspections will continue to grow at a brisk pace, describing them as the “future of pipeline inspection systems” due to their efficiency, accuracy and low cost.
Water Restored at Grand Canyon after Pipeline Break
Officials at the Grand Canyon lifted water restrictions last month after fixing a pipeline break in a section north of Phantom Ranch.
U.S. Construction Spending Rose a Slight 0.1%
U.S. construction spending ticked up just 0.1% in July, aided by government spending on schools, sewers and the water supply.
Aqua Pennsylvania Acquires Delaware County Wastewater Assets
The municipal water authority for Delaware County, Penn., has agreed to sell its wastewater assets to a subsidiary of publicly traded water utility Aqua America for $276.5 million, the company said.
Quanta Acquires Hallen Construction, 2 Specialty Contractors
Quanta Services said it has completed the acquisition of Plainview, N.Y.-based Hallen Construction, a large gas utility contractor serving key markets in the U.S. Northeast, along with two Southeast specialty contractors for $330 million in cash and stock.
ADS
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS), the Hilliard, Ohio-based, global manufacturer of water management products, solutions and technologies for infrastructure, released its enhanced Design Tool 2.0. The new application enables customers to incorporate site-specific information, quickly create StormTech system layouts in CAD and PDF formats and edit and save these designs for review and modification.
GoodForGas
Compact, durable and very easy-to-use, the G450 Gas Detector from GoodforGas Instrumentation offers exceptional performance for an extremely affordable price.
New Cat D3 Series SSLs, CTLs Advance Reputation, Deliver Improvements
Caterpillar released 16 new D3 Series skid steer loader (SSL) and compact track loader (CTL) models that advance the D and D2 Series’ reputation for quality, comfort and performance, and deliver improvements in operator experience, stability and technology.
EPA Proposes Limits on State Regulatory Barriers to Pipeline Construction
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving ahead with an effort to limit the ability of states to stymie pipeline projects by either declining to issue or delaying the issuance of Clean Water Act certifications. The states and Indian tribes are required to issue those permits within one year of submission of a request by a company wanting to build a pipeline.
RehabZone Additions, Changes for 2020 Event
As in the past, the RehabZone is a unique feature of the 2020 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exposition (UCT). The show is scheduled for Jan. 28–30, 2020, at the Fort Worth, Texas, Convention Center.
HDD Memories to the Future
If you are involved in the horizontal directional drilling industry, by now you’ve probably heard about the first-ever HDD Reunion (HDDR) being organized by industry personnel and Underground Construction magazine. HDDR 2020 will be held in conjunction with the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 28-30.
Queens, New York Breaks Ground on $139 Million Upgrade Project
A New York neighborhood has broken ground on a $139 million renovation across 25 blocks which will include, among other things, several miles of sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.
August Construction Starts Decrease 6 Percent
New construction starts dropped 6% over the month in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $807.1 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.
euNetworks Adds New High Density Fiber Networks in Milan and Madrid
euNetworks Group Limited (“euNetworks”), a Western European bandwidth infrastructure company, has announced that it has undertaken further network investment in Europe, building duct based, high fiber count networks in the cities of Milan and Madrid.
In Memoriam: Davis Yates
Longtime underground construction and trenchless industry professional Davis Yates passed away July 2 at the age of 51.
In Memoriam: Jim Barbera
Jim Barbera, of East Canton, Ohio, passed away at age 79, on July 8.
Epiroc Donates Equipment to Colorado School of Mines’ EMI
Epiroc, a productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, donated a COP 1238K rock drill to the Excavation Engineering and Earth Mechanics Institute (EMI) at the Colorado School of Mines.
EPA Launches Comment Period for Clean Water Act Changes
The EPA recently issued a proposed rule to implement Section 401 of the Clean Water Act intended to streamline the approval process for permits that are often an obstacle for pipelines and other infrastructure projects.
SoCalGas Worker Killed in Gas Line Explosion, 15 Others Injured
A natural gas explosion destroyed a Southern California home, killed a gas company worker and injured more than a dozen, authorities said.
John Deere Launches Apprenticeship Program
John Deere said it is helping address the widespread shortage of service technicians, especially in rural areas, through a new Registered Apprenticeship Program it is making available to its dealers.
Aegion Wins $5.7 Million Rehab Contract in Alabama
Aegion Corporation has announced that its subsidiary, Insituform Technologies, LLC, has been awarded a $5.7 million wastewater pipeline rehabilitation contract in Montgomery, Ala.
Presidential Hopefuls Flock to Flint for Environmental Messages
Flint, Michigan, became a destination city during the 2016 presidential election for candidates to deliver messages about the environment, water quality and urban policy. That trend has continued as the 2020 election closes in.
Columbia Gas Parent Settles Massachusetts Gas Explosion Lawsuits for $143 Million
Utility operator NiSource Inc. said it agreed pay $143 million to resolve class action lawsuits brought by residents and businesses that suffered losses caused by a series of gas explosions in three Massachusetts communities last year.
U.S. Water, Wastewater Costs on Rise
U.S. municipal water and wastewater utility bills grew at an inflation-adjusted 3.6% during the past year to an household average $104 per month, according to a new index that has raised concerns about both affordability and regional volatility.
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- The EPA announces $6.2 billion in funding for Iowa and Kansas water infrastructure