Regulatory
Ottawa, Canada contractor strikes 11 gas lines over 15-month span during tunnel, pipeline work
Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited has pleaded guilty to five safety violations after damaging multiple gas lines during a series of tunnel and pipeline upgrade projects in Ottawa.
EPA chief vows aggressive action on sewage crisis along U.S.-Mexico border
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has vowed to intensify the agency’s response to the ongoing sewage contamination stemming from the Tijuana River Valley.
Texas lawmakers propose billions for water infrastructure overhaul
A key proposal, Senate Bill 7, would fund new water sources such as desalination and aquifer storage rather than relying on groundwater transfers from rural areas to cities.
Supreme Court backs San Francisco in Clean Water Act case, limits EPA authority on sewage discharge
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in favor of San Francisco on March 4, 2025, ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot hold the city accountable for water quality conditions it cannot control.
$100 million agreement ends lawsuit, pushing $2 billion Colorado reservoir project forward
A long-disputed reservoir project in Northern Colorado is moving forward after a legal settlement between Northern Water and the environmental group Save the Poudre.
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.
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.
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.
IER, Mackinac urge Defense Secretary to expedite Line 5 Tunnel construction
Earlier this week, officials from the Institute for Energy Research (IER) and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the swift completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for the proposed Line 5 Tunnel project in Michigan.
Texas infrastructure stuck at ‘C’ as energy, water systems struggle
The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has given the state’s infrastructure a cumulative grade of ‘C’ in its 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card—unchanged from 2021.
Smelly Mel’s, Sewer Rat Plumbing fined nearly $530,000 after San Mateo, Calif., trench collapse
California workplace safety regulators have fined Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing a combined $529,640 for safety violations linked to a trench collapse that seriously injured a construction worker in San Mateo on Aug. 1, 2024.
Portland's $2 billion Bull Run Filtration Project halts construction after permit denial
According to The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Portland city officials have paused construction on its $2 billion Bull Run project after failing to secure a crucial land-use permit required for construction to move forward. The project, first approved in 2017, includes plans for a new filtration plant and associated water pipelines to comply with EPA regulations.
Bipartisan legislation reintroduced to protect utilities, ratepayers from PFAS costs
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has expressed strong support for the reintroduction of the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to protect water utilities from undue financial burdens associated with PFAS cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Wisconsin to invest $145 million in PFAS cleanup for municipal water systems
Gov. Tony Evers has announced a $145 million initiative as part of his 2025-27 Executive Budget to combat PFAS contamination, protect families from harmful water pollutants, and improve access to clean drinking water across Wisconsin.
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.
Trump order halts EPA’s proposed limits on PFAS discharges
The Office of Management and Budget withdrew the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) and Standards for PFAS Manufacturers on Jan. 21.
Bloomington, Minn., adopts sewer fee to support infrastructure upgrades
Bloomington’s growing redevelopment has pushed parts of the city’s sanitary sewer system to capacity, prompting the need for $55 million in upgrades by 2040.
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.
FERC reinstates certificate for Williams' Transco Pipeline's expansion project
The U.S. energy regulator has reinstated the certificate for Williams Companies' Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) on Friday, the company said on Monday, which would allow the expansion of the project.
EPA settlement mandates $30 million sewer upgrades for Cahokia Heights, Ill.
Cahokia Heights, Illinois, has agreed to a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, and the state of Illinois over long-standing sanitary sewer violations. The city will invest an estimated $30 million in upgrades to address improper sewage discharges and improve system reliability.
Editor’s Log: Where credit is due
As 2025 begins, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act remains a focal point, with officials vying for credit. Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter reflects on the act's impact, bipartisan origins, and the immense work still needed to rebuild America’s infrastructure.
FEMA invests $19.4 million in sewer line extension for Lahaina, Maui recovery
FEMA is investing $19.4 million to extend a sewer line to the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site, with long-term benefits for Lahaina and surrounding neighborhoods.
Driggs, Idaho commits to $25 million wastewater upgrade after Clean Water Act violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, the state of Idaho, and the City of Driggs, Idaho have agreed on a series of measures the city will undertake to address chronic violations of the Clean Water Act, including a major upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant.
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.
Sen. Ossoff's law to upgrade East Point, Ga., water infrastructure signed
The law expands an existing authorization for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support water infrastructure projects in East Point, with the goal of improving quality of life and enhancing resilience in the city.
EPA fines developers for stormwater violations in Puerto Rico
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined The Cliff Corp. and Grupo Caribe, LLC a combined $50,000 for violating the Clean Water Act during the construction of an 86-villa residential development in the Borinquen Ward of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
EPA and Washington fine Seattle, King County for sewer overflow violations
The Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly issued penalties to Seattle and King County for violations related to combined sewer overflows.
2024 election sets an interesting table
On Nov. 5, Donald Trump was elected America’s 47th president, after what is considered one of the biggest political comebacks in recent history.
FERC rejects effort to regulate Williams’ gathering line
(UI) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) just gave a big boost to interstate pipelines that are considering new connections between shale fields and customers.
- 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