Regulatory
Los Osos, Calif., water pipeline project still on hold as Army Corps delays approval
A long-awaited pipeline project to connect Los Osos, Calif., to the state water system remains stalled as the Army Corps of Engineers has yet to approve funding. Local officials and Congressman Salud Carbajal are pressing for action.
EPA faces key decision on future of national PFAS drinking water limits
The EPA is expected to decide soon whether to uphold strict PFAS drinking water limits challenged by utilities, with millions of Americans' water protections hanging in the balance.
Army Corps eyes fall 2025 for Line 5 Tunnel permit decision
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it expects to make a permit decision on the Line 5 Tunnel Project in fall 2025, with a draft environmental review set for release May 30 and public comments accepted through June.
Clock ticking on Canandaigua, N.Y., plan to remove toxic chemicals from water
Senator Schumer is urging the EPA to end delays and approve $1.75 million in funding for Canandaigua, N.Y.'s drinking water upgrade. The project, vital for 40,000 residents in Ontario and Wayne counties, targets harmful DBP chemicals linked to cancer and organ damage.
EPA gives $49 million boost to rural, small and tribal wastewater projects
The EPA has awarded $49 million to help rural, small and tribal communities upgrade wastewater infrastructure and improve Clean Water Act compliance. The funding supports technical assistance programs that help communities manage aging systems and access financing.
Judge rules U.S. government owes nearly $28 million to North Dakota for pipeline protests
A federal judge awarded North Dakota nearly $28 million from the U.S. government to cover costs tied to the Dakota Access pipeline protests, citing federal negligence during the 2016-2017 demonstrations.
Pennsylvania American Water to replace 550 lead service lines in New Castle
The project will replace approximately 550 identified lead water service lines. Removing all leaded components will improve water quality for customers and aligns with regulatory initiatives.
BGE refutes claims of pipeline safety risks tied to falsified contractor audit
BGE has rejected claims by the Maryland PSC that its gas pipeline safety was compromised due to a former employee’s falsified inspection. The company insists no systemwide risks exist and defends its disciplinary handling of the matter.
Illinois notifies 47 water systems of PFAS violations, triggers right-to-know requirements
Illinois EPA has notified 47 community water systems of PFAS violations under newly adopted groundwater standards. Affected systems must alert the public under Right-to-Know rules, as state and federal agencies ramp up PFAS oversight.
Cal/OSHA cites contractor after deadly 17-foot trench collapse
Cal/OSHA has cited a California contractor following a fatal trench collapse that killed a worker inside a 17-foot excavation. Investigators found the trench lacked required cave-in protections and safety protocols.
FERC signs off on 122-mile Tennessee gas pipeline with new lateral, header lines
FERC approves Enbridge subsidiary East Tennessee Natural Gas's $1.1 billion Ridgeline Expansion Project to supply TVA's new power plant in Tennessee with up to 300,000 Dth/day of natural gas.
Nicholas Construction to upgrade California’s Mojave River Pipeline with new screen system
Nicholas Construction Inc. has been awarded a nearly $6.3 million contract to build the Mojave River Pipeline Traveling Screen Project, aimed at improving water delivery efficiency and enhancing regional groundwater recharge.
Texas’ Midland County voters to weigh $645 million proposal for new water system
Voters in Midland County will soon decide whether to approve a $645 million bond that would fund a major overhaul of the region’s water infrastructure.
California fast-tracks underground utility rebuild after Los Angeles fires
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to accelerate the rebuilding of critical underground utility systems in fire-damaged areas of Los Angeles County, including Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades.
Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is calling on the Trump administration to release $50 million in delayed federal funds for lead pipe replacement, warning that the holdup threatens public health and critical infrastructure work.
Corpus Christi, Texas, approves Mary Rhodes water pipeline upgrades amid Stage 3 drought
The Corpus Christi City Council has approved additional funding for critical infrastructure upgrades to the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, a key water supply system now running at its maximum capacity amid worsening drought conditions.
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.
Williams highlights infrastructure’s role in surging gas demand at UIC 2025
At UIC 2025, Williams Co. VP Glenn Koch outlined how underground infrastructure and natural gas storage are critical to meeting surging U.S. energy demand, driven by data centers and peak-day power needs.
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.
- 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
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs