Pipelines
Greenpeace must pay $667 million to Energy Transfer over pipeline protests, jury finds
A jury announced on Wednesday that Greenpeace is required to pay nearly $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer, a Texas-based pipeline company, due to the environmental group's involvement in protests against construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016-2017.
Mary Rhodes Pipeline expansion part of ongoing efforts to boost Corpus Christi water supply
Key ongoing projects include expansion of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline — recently awarded Asset Management Project of the Year by Underground Infrastructure Magazine — along with two planned seawater desalination plants and plans to drill new water wells along the Nueces River, Caller Times reported.
48-inch sewer line project begins in Visalia, Calif.
Sewer construction along Shirk Avenue in northwest Visalia is set to begin on March 17 after a weather-related delay. Crews will work through March 21, installing a 400-foot, 48-inch mainline sanitary sewer pipe to expand capacity and support future growth.
South Dakota governor signs bill banning eminent domain for carbon pipeline
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed HB 1052 into law, protecting landowners' property rights by prohibiting the use of eminent domain for pipelines transporting carbon oxide.
Cadiz taps Stantec to lead engineering for $800 million Mojave Groundwater Bank
Once completed, the project will provide 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply and 1 million acre-feet of underground storage. A 350-mile pipeline network will connect the system to the Colorado River and California Aqueducts, making it the largest new water infrastructure project in the Southwest.
New Jersey American Water advances lead pipe replacements, exceeds 12,000 replacements
The utility remains on track to meet a 2021 New Jersey law requiring the removal of both utility-owned and customer-owned lead and galvanized steel service lines by 2031.
Estimated cost to replace Canada water pipeline nearly doubled since last year
According to CBC Canada News, consulting firm AECOM presented a report to Yellowknife city council showing the cost for a new water pipeline has risen to $107.7 million, up almost double from the 2024 estimate of $62.7 million.
Western Midstream to build pipeline for Permian produced water transport
Western Midstream Partners announced that it has sanctioned the construction of the Pathfinder pipeline, a 30-inch long-haul pipeline, that will transport produced-water to additional disposal facilities in eastern Loving County within the Delaware Basin.
Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order has revived discussions about the 1,200-mile Keystone XL pipeline, a long-debated oil project that has faced political and environmental scrutiny.
Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
Ameren Illinois plans to invest nearly $140 million in 2025 to upgrade its natural gas transmission system across four Illinois counties. The upgrades aim to enhance system resilience and meet federal pipeline regulations.
Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
The ICC’s decision marks a major regulatory shift, replacing Peoples Gas’ over-budget modernization program with a strict mandate to remove high-risk cast iron and ductile iron pipes in Chicago by 2035. With potential financial penalties and oversight from a newly appointed Safety Monitor, this ruling directly impacts pipeline safety, utility operations, and future rate considerations.
Washington watch: Last-minute Biden pipeline actions in the balance
The Biden administration’s attempts in its last month to make significant changes to pipeline regulation may be early targets for reversal for the incoming Trump administration. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) was particularly active as the clock ran out, finalizing one pipeline leak detection rule and issuing its intent to define “categorical exclusions” which are proposed pipeline operational changes that would not need environmental review.
WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
The Clack-A-Mole Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was retrieved from the Willamette River in Oregon City, Ore., at the end of January after being submerged for more than seven months. During that time, the 250,000-pound machine drilled a half-milelong, nine-foot-diameter tunnel to construct a new outfall pipeline to transport treated water.
Schneider Electric strengthens OT security with SCADAPack RTU upgrade
Schneider Electric has introduced new cybersecurity features for its SCADAPack 470i and 474i remote terminal units (RTUs), aiming to enhance operational technology (OT) security for critical infrastructure.
Maryland lawmakers push to curb BGE pipeline spending, citing safety and cost concerns
Maryland lawmakers and regulators are raising concerns over Baltimore Gas & Electric’s (BGE) multibillion-dollar pipeline replacement program, citing rising costs for consumers and questions about its effectiveness in improving safety.
Newark resolves water crisis with service line replacement program
(UI) — As evidence mounted in the 1970s and 1980s about the detrimental effects of lead on the nervous system, Congress banned the use of lead in water pipes in 1986. By 1991, federal regulators began requiring water authorities to monitor lead levels in drinking water.
Trump aims to leverage Clean Water Act to speed up pipeline construction
According to E&E News by Politico, The Trump Administration has taken recent action to leverage the Clean Water Act in order to ramp up gas pipeline construction across the U.S.
AI's impact on pipeline construction: Transforming productivity and safety
Artificial Intelligence is all the rage. Nearly all of the discussion is how efficiently it can perform repetitive tasks, forecasting, etc. There are fears, as well, that AI will displace humans and their jobs.
Washington Watch: Trump regulatory changes afoot for pipelines
Trump’s regulatory changes could impact pipeline approvals, with shifts in key environmental laws. Expected revisions to NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and methane regulations could accelerate or delay projects, depending on the new administration’s stance.
Kinder Morgan moves forward with $1.7 billion natural gas pipeline project in Katy, Texas
According to Chron: Houston News, Kinder Morgan will go forward with its $1.7 billion Trident Intrastate Pipeline. The 216-mile natural gas pipeline will be built in Katy, Texas, and bring 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas to the LNG and industrial corridor near Port Arthur, Texas once it's completed.
PHMSA proposes tougher safety rules for carbon dioxide pipelines
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has unveiled a proposal to strengthen safety requirements for carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hazardous liquid pipelines.
$105 million S. Dakota water pipeline project to begin construction spring of 2025
According to The Daily Republic, A water pipeline initiative in Mitchell, S.D. recently awarded construction contracts for the project, with construction set to begin spring of 2025.
Additional $250 million funding secured for Arkansas Valley Conduit water pipeline construction
Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed the announcement from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) that $250 million in new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would be made available to expedite construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC).
$8 million pipeline project could bring new water source to Los Osos, Calif.
According to KSBY News, A proposed 2.5-mile pipeline could connect Los Osos to the State Water Project. The $8 million project recently made it through Congress and Senate approval and could be a new source of water for the town with a long history of water issues.
Phillips 66 adds 1,235 miles of pipelines in $2.2 billion EPIC NGL acquisition
Phillips 66 has agreed to acquire EPIC Y-Grade GP, LLC and EPIC Y-Grade, LP, which include natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines, fractionation facilities, and distribution systems. The $2.2 billion cash deal is expected to close following regulatory approval and customary conditions.
Enbridge should reconsider Line 5 tunnel boring project, IEEFA report says
Enbridge Energy's plan to bore a tunnel between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to replace an underwater segment of Line 5 is costly and ill-advised, according to a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Missouri American Water offers tips to prevent frozen pipes this winter
As temperatures drop, Missouri American Water is reminding residents to take steps to protect their homes and plumbing from freezing conditions. Frozen pipes can lead to expensive repairs and unnecessary stress, but preventive measures can help avoid these issues.
Williams completes key Transco upgrade, boosting gas supply in North Carolina and Virginia
Williams has announced that its Southside Reliability Enhancement project is now fully operational, increasing natural gas capacity in North Carolina and Virginia.
New Mexico secures $20 million in funding for water transmission pipelines
The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA) has an agreement with the New Mexico Water Trust Board and Finance Authority for $20 million, which will complete the budget for the Raw Water 1A (RW1A) 14.4-mile transmission pipeline project.
Consumers Energy plans $248 million upgrade to Michigan's natural gas system
Consumers Energy has unveiled plans to modernize Michigan's natural gas infrastructure, including replacing up to 10,000 aging service lines and installing remote-control valves on major pipelines to enhance safety and efficiency.
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Kinder Morgan moves forward with $1.7 billion natural gas pipeline project in Katy, Texas
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project