Regulatory
Chemical Not Found in Treated Water in West Virginia, Ohio
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says a little-studied chemical compound has not been found in treated drinking water that came from contaminated wells in Ohio and West Virginia. The Parkersburg News & Sentinel reports the agency had requested Chemours to test the..
California Town, Water District Fined for Sewer Spills Into Bay
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the city of Oakland and a water district are being fined $350,000 for allegedly allowing sewage water to flow into the San Francisco Bay. The EPA says in a statement Tuesday that Oakland will have to pay more than $220,000 in ..
Washington Regulators Host Hearing on Avista, Hydro One Merger
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Customers of Avista Corp. told the state Utilities and Transportation Commission they’re happy with their local electric and natural gas utility and see little benefit from its sale to a Canadian corporation. About 80 people attended a public hearing in Spokane Monday on..
Pennsylvania Regulators Suspend Laboratory's Accreditation for Water Testing Violations
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has suspended the laboratory accreditation of Analytical Laboratory Services, Inc.’s Middletown facility (ALS-Middletown) for continued violations relating to the handling and reporting of Safe Drinking Water compliance samples. As a resu..
Indiana Utility Reaches Deal for 15 Percent Gas Rate Increase
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — The natural gas utility company for most of northern Indiana could increase its rates by about 15 percent under a deal it has reached with the state consumer advocate’s office. The proposed increase for Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. would be smalle..
Eyeglass Lens Maker Fined $750K for Illegal Sewer Discharges
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has fined an eyeglass lens manufacturer $750,000 for repeatedly discharging hazardous waste into Clackamas County’s sewer system in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon fined Carl ..
Western Arizona Eyed as Water Source for Major Metro Areas
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A week into her appointment last fall as a Mohave County supervisor in western Arizona, Lois Wakimoto heard the words that would consume her since: We have a water problem. The entity that sends Colorado River water throughout Arizona wants to buy farmland in her district th..
Workers Admit Taking Bribes to Lower Water, Sewer Bills
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Two municipal water department workers have admitted taking bribes in return for reducing the water and sewer bills of numerous customers. Joseph DeBonis and William Ortiz both pleaded guilty Friday to official misconduct. Both had been suspended from their jobs with the ..
Ohio County Receives Sewer Collection System Funding
The Ohio EPA is providing a $236,500 loan to Morrow County for the design of a centralized sewer collection system for the Iberia area. With the assistance, the county plans to construct a centralized sewer collection system to replace failing on-site systems along State Route 309. The design will ..
New York Sending More Utility Workers to Puerto Rico Power Restoration Efforts
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s governor is heading back to Puerto Rico with more help as the island continues to recover from last year’s catastrophic hurricane. Democrat Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the state is sending another team of utility experts to assist with repairs to Puerto Rico’..
Feud Erupts Between Utility, States over Colorado River
DENVER (AP) — Tension over the drought-stressed Colorado River escalated into a public feud when four U.S. states accused Arizona’s largest water provider of manipulating supply and demand, potentially threatening millions of people in the United States and Mexico who rely on the river. The four st..
Hawaii Lawmakers Provide $125M for Flood Repairs
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers are appropriating $125 million to help with flood relief efforts on Kauai and elsewhere in the state. House and Senate leaders said Wednesday the money would support road, bridge and infrastructure repairs. Rescuers and volunteers used jet skis and helicopters to e..
Former Water Superintendent Charged with Taking $300K
ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former water department superintendent in Tennessee has been charged with using the position to steal more than $300,000 from the department. A Hawkins County grand jury this week indicted 49-year-old Shawn Hatchett, who is the former superintendent of the Rogersvi..
Air Force to Buy Water, Help with Filters for Colorado Towns
reported Wednesday the Air Force will purchase clean drinking water and pay for operating and maintaining filter systems. ..
Coalition Works to Expand Rural Broadband
A coalition of stakeholders committed to the expansion of broadband services in rural America today launched the first in a series of workshops to focus attention on the wide-ranging challenges to achieving connectivity, and the opportunities improved e-connectivity could bring to the people and eco..
API, Union Establish Pipeline Construction Safety Training Program
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have established a Pipeline Construction Safety Training Program. This landmark program will combine the best practices of both the building trades unions and the natural gas and oil industry into a foundationa..
Flint Water Group on Hold Due to Spat Between Mayor, State's Governor
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A group that regularly meets in Flint to discuss the city’s recovery from contaminated water is caught in a spat between the mayor and Gov. Rick Snyder. Snyder canceled a Friday meeting of the Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee after Mayor Karen Weaver threatened to ..
New York Awards $2.9 Million for Lake Ontario Flooding
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo awarded $2.9 million in Lake Ontario Flood Relief funds to local governments in Wayne, Orleans, Niagara, Cayuga, and Jefferson counties dedicated to restoration resiliency and recovery efforts following last year’s flooding and to protect the community from the damage..
New York City Celebrates National Work Zone Awareness Week
New York City recently held a ceremony recognizing the importance of keeping public works and utility employees safe in honor of National Work Zone Awareness week, April 9–13. The event took place along the Grand Central Parkway in Corona, Queens. “The men and women of DEP who build and maintain t..
Ohio EPA Updates Findings on Sources of Nutrients Impacting Water Quality
As required by state legislation signed in 2015 (House Bill 64), the Ohio EPA has completed its second statewide study identifying sources and estimating the annual amount of phosphorus and other nutrients flowing from the state’s watersheds into Lake Erie and the Ohio River. According to the study,..
Researchers: Reducing Stormwater Runoff Helps Water Quality
BALTIMORE (AP) — Researchers say they have confirmed what environmentalists have long known: Stormwater runoff reduction projects help the environment, while leaking sewage hurts it. Alice Volpitta, the water quality manager at Blue Water, tells The Baltimore Sun that the study tracked 20 years of ..
Flint Mayor's Plea to Continue Free Bottled Water Sites Rejected
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The mayor of Flint says Gov. Rick Snyder rejected her face-to-face plea to reverse his decision ending free bottled water. Mayor Karen Weaver met with the governor Monday, 10 days after he said water distribution would end, based on improved water quality. For months, Flint’s l..
Nearly $74 Million Awarded for Texas Water and Sewer Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved more than $73 million in financial assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the following pipeline construction projects: $64.69 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to..
Kentucky Lawmakers Approve Broadband Project
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers have grudgingly agreed to fund a high-speed internet project that has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. The project, dubbed Kentucky Wired, is supposed to build a network of more than 3,000 miles of fiber optic cables to bring broadband capability to..
Independent Tests Show Flint Water Quality is Improving
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Independent tests are confirming that water quality in Flint has improved. The tests were required under a legal settlement between the state of Michigan and Flint residents. The Natural Resources Defense Council said Friday that tests at 92 homes showed lead levels far below th..
Chair of Oregon Utility Commission Quits in Middle of Term
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The chairwoman of the Oregon Public Utility Commission has resigned less than two years after she was appointed. Lisa Hardie did not provide a reason why in a statement Friday, but said it was an honor to serve in the post. Her four-year term was scheduled to end May 31,..
Duke Energy Moves Ahead with Ohio Gas Pipeline Application
Duke Energy Ohio is moving ahead with its application before the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) to build the proposed Central Corridor Pipeline, a 13 mile, 20-inch natural gas pipeline designed to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to customers in southwest Ohio. Once finished,..
Columbia Gas of Maryland Seeks Rate Increase for Pipeline Replacement Projects
Columbia Gas of Maryland, Inc. (Columbia Gas), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc., today filed a request with the Public Service Commission of Maryland (PSC) to adjust its base rates for distribution service so it can continue to replace aging pipeline and adopt pipeline safety upgrades. In total, t..
Application Filed for $405 Million Gas Pipeline Project
Williams Partners L.P. has submitted an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking authorization for the $404.8 million Southeastern Trail Expansion Project, which would provide 296,375 Dth/d of additional firm transportation capacity to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and ..
Michigan Lawmakers Seek Action to Reopen Flint Water Sites
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two Flint-area lawmakers are urging Attorney General Bill Shuette to take immediate legal action to reverse Gov. Rick Snyder’s decision to close bottled water distribution sites in the city dealing with a lead-tainted drinking water crisis. Democratic Reps. Sheldon Neele..
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