Regulatory
New York’s Erie County Water Authority sues PVC pipe makers for alleged price-fixing
New York's Erie County Water Authority has filed an antitrust lawsuit against major U.S. PVC pipe manufacturers, alleging they conspired to fix prices, artificially raising costs for PVC pipes used in public water systems and wastewater treatment nationwide.
South Carolina construction firm enters penalty phase over delayed sewer project completion
A $12 million sewer expansion project known as Sewer South Phase 2, overseen by a construction company from Anderson County, has exceeded its Oct. 29 completion deadline, mainly due to outstanding final tasks.
Worker deaths decline amid OSHA crackdown on high-risk trench and fall hazards
According to preliminary data, fatalities in key high-risk areas like trench collapses and falls, which are among the leading causes of death for construction workers, have notably declined.
Top federal court slaps FERC’s hands-on project approvals
Two recent federal appeals court decisions make it unlikely that 2024 and beyond will see an improvement in that statistic, even as interstate pipeline building becomes more important, given increased demand from electric generators, data centers and auto electrification.
Federal court rejects four new pipeline safety rules
Not only has the DC Federal Court of Appeals upended FERC decisions, it has now injected itself into Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) decisions.
Federal charges filed against contractors for failing to remove lead pipes in Newark, N.J.
Two officials from a construction company contracted to remove lead pipes in Newark have been charged with fraud, accused of deceiving the city by leaving the hazardous pipes in place while falsely claiming to have replaced them.
Federal court halts permits for 32-mile Tennessee gas pipeline project
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked key permits required for the construction of a 32-mile natural gas pipeline in Tennessee, following legal challenges from environmental groups
EPA mandates lead pipe replacement within 10 years, allocates $44 million to New Jersey for clean water
The Biden-Harris Administration has introduced a new rule requiring U.S. water systems to replace all lead pipes within the next decade, aiming to reduce lead exposure and provide cleaner drinking water.
Water utilities race to complete lead line inventories as EPA deadline looms
As the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Oct. 16 deadline approaches, water utilities across the U.S. are scrambling to submit detailed inventories of lead service lines as required by the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
FERC backs Williams in Texas-Louisiana pipeline dispute with Energy Transfer
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has rejected Energy Transfer's request to challenge the jurisdictional status of a major pipeline project by The Williams Companies Inc. (Williams), according to a Sept. 27 ruling.
Wisconsin Whey Protein settles for $350,000 over wastewater violations
Wisconsin Whey Protein Inc. has agreed to pay $350,000 and install a new cooling system to resolve violations of state wastewater and stormwater laws at its Darlington cheese and whey plant.
2024 water infrastructure bill gains Senate approval for key U.S. projects
The U.S. Senate has passed the bipartisan Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance key water infrastructure projects across the nation, including West Virginia.
California governor signs bills to improve sewer systems, expand access to clean water
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation aimed at addressing failing sewer systems in California communities, such as East Orosi. The new law gives the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) greater authority to intervene where sewer services are inadequate.
Enbridge agrees to reapply for key permit, stalling Line 5 tunnel project
The Army Corps of Engineers has extended its environmental review, pushing the project’s potential start date to 2026. Enbridge must now apply for a new water resources permit incorporating updated wetland data before moving forward.
Texas trench fatalities rise despite OSHA safety regulations
(UI) — Trench collapses continue to be a leading cause of preventable worker deaths in Texas, despite existing safety regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Wisconsin proposes new PFAS drinking water standards to align with federal rules
The Environmental Protection Agency recently established new federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS, requiring states to adopt these standards to maintain regulatory control over their water systems.
Federal government must address construction workforce shortage with better policies, survey finds
The nation’s failure to invest in construction workforce education and training programs is having a real, measurable impact on the country’s ability to build infrastructure and other construction projects, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and Arcoro.
Virginia’s Loudoun County to weigh in on Dominion Energy’s transmission line plans
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold a public hearing in Loudoun County on Sept. 5, to gather testimony on Dominion Energy Virginia’s proposed Aspen-Golden and Apollo-Twin Creeks electric transmission line projects.
Tennessee pipeline gets initial FERC approval despite environmental concerns
FERC has given a preliminary green light to East Tennessee Natural Gas to build 122 miles of 30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, providing about 300,000 dekatherms per day of firm natural gas transportation to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant.
Washington Watch: Congress stalls on pipeline safety bill as PHMSA nears key rule decisions
(UI) — As Congress heads toward the end of this session, presumably in late September, the two, different bipartisan pipeline safety bills passed by two House committees appear to be going nowhere fast.
EPA blames state for Jackson water crisis, cites inadequate oversight
The EPA has released a critical report highlighting the Mississippi State Department of Health’s failures in overseeing Jackson’s water system, which contributed to the 2022 water crisis impacting 150,000 residents.
Biden administration streamlines environmental review process to fix aging natural gas pipes
The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that current and future recipients of its Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants (NGDISM) will be able to take advantage of a new, streamlined federal environmental review process for communities to fix older, leak prone natural gas pipes.
OSHA fines El Paso contractor in deadly trench collapse, citing repeated safety lapses
OSHA determined that CMD Endeavors Inc. failed to provide a proper protective system for a pipe layer working in an excavation. As a result, a trench collapsed, causing a piece of asphalt to fall and severely injure the worker, who later died in a hospital.
Illinois governor signs bill implementing two-year pause on CO2 pipeline construction
Governor JB Pritzker has signed the SAFE CCS Act, establishing new safety standards for carbon capture in Illinois and implementing a two-year pause on CO2 pipeline construction.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company faces new tunneling violation in Austin
The complaint, lodged by Bastrop resident Chap Ambrose, alleges that The Boring Company initiated tunneling at the Gigafactory in Austin without the necessary permits.
Lakehaven Water and Sewer District settles penalty for sewage spills
(UI) — The Lakehaven Water and Sewer District has paid $40,000 to resolve violations of its water quality permit as part of a settlement agreement with the Washington Department of Ecology.
OSHA investigation launched after worker found unconscious in Kansas City, Mo., sewer pipe
A construction worker in Missouri was hospitalized in critical condition on July 8 after he was discovered unresponsive in a sewer pipe. Emergency responders arrived at Old Santa Fe Road and located the man inside a 15-foot manhole.
Survey reveals concerns over PFAS contamination in U.S. drinking water
A recent survey conducted by water treatment provider Culligan sheds light on widespread concerns among Americans regarding the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their drinking water.
Arizona authorizes $5 billion for infrastructure with “historic” Colorado River water rights legislation
The settlement authorizes $5 billion to acquire, build, and maintain essential water development and delivery projects, including a $1.75 billion distribution pipeline. In total, the Tribes would be guaranteed access to over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, and specific ground water rights and protections.
FERC approves Transco's Texas-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project expansion
The project, estimated at $91.8 million, aims to expand the capacity of the existing Transco pipeline in Texas and Louisiana, enhancing energy infrastructure reliability and diversification along the Gulf Coast.
- Tunnel boring machine ‘Clack-A-Mole’ nears one-third completion in Oregon outfall project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Wyo-Ben’s Max Gel, Max Bore HDD system boost drilling efficiency, performance
- Texas A&M weighs underground transit plan with Elon Musk's Boring Co. to reduce campus traffic
- Colorado's Wolf Creek Pass tunnel drainage project begins
- Wisconsin proposes new PFAS drinking water standards to align with federal rules
- Elgin, Ill., joins EPA drinking water initiative to accelerate lead pipe replacement
- Dog River pipeline replacement in Oregon improves water supply with new HDPE pipe
- New Portable Welding System From Miller
- Excavator Causes Puerto Rico Power Outage