Industry Trends


Regional Conservation Programs Receives $260 Million in USDA Funding

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the USDA will be providing $260 million for conservation partnership programs that will help improve water quality, support wildlife, protect agriculture, and more. Applications are now being accepted for 2017 funding.

GE Power & Water and Alstom Power Combine to Form GE’s Largest Digital Industrial Business, GE Power

By combining the strongest attributes of GE’s power generation technologies, services and expertise with Alstom Power’s technology and geography, the global utility sector will benefit from a world-class supplier of total power plant and life cycle solutions that can support equipment from multiple suppliers.

Colorado Receives EPA Grant for Air Monitoring in Denver

Colorado Receives EPA Grant for Air Monitoring in Denver

With a $399,000 grant from the EPA, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will be able to conduct air toxics measurements in the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea neighborhoods that are located just adjacent to the I-70/I-25 freeway interchange.

The study tested a model that allows scientists and wind energy companies to predict bird fatalities before a wind farm is built.

Model Predicts Bird Deaths Before Wind Facility Construction

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a case study that involved golden eagles partly because of their soaring and hunting behaviors.

Kerr-McGee, Anadarko Pay $5.15 Billion in Record Settlement

U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest had approved the settlement in November 2014, saying the case arose from a "series of transactions by the Kerr-McGee Corp. that resulted in the spin-off of Tronox, which Kerr-McGee left saddled with the massive environmental and tort liabilities it had accumulated over the course of decades of operating in the chemical, mining, and oil and gas industries, but without sufficient assets with which to address these liabilities."

Former Freedom Industries Executive Charged

Gary Southern was arrested Dec. 8 and made his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Ft. Myers, Florida, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced.

Lloyd's Course to Feature Costa Concordia Salvage Case Study

TITAN Salvage/Marine Response Alliance's Lindsay Malen, director of business development, will discuss challenges and lessons learned during the salvage and wreck removal.

NIOSH to Study Exposures to Metals and Flame Retardants in E-scrap Recycling

The agency's Health Hazard Evaluation Program is seeking five facilities to participate. A team of industrial hygienists and medical officers will make site visits to assess workers' occupational exposures.



Pennsylvania Awards Grants for Alternative Fuel Vehicles

As a way to help combat air pollution, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has awards 33 incentive grants for alternative fuel vehicles. Additional grants have also been awarded for innovative alternative fuel projects.

The EPA has announced $11 million in funding for the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated Brownfield properties across the United States.

Millions in EPA Funding Available to Clean Up Brownfields Across the Country

The EPA has announced $11 million in funding for the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated Brownfield properties across the United States.

Water Act Violations Settlement Intends to Prevent Future Oils Spills

Cargill, Inc. has agreed to settle with the EPA for Clean Water Act violations at two different oil storage facilities. The settlement will also outline steps required to prevent future oil spills at the sites.

BSEE

BSEE Testing Stationary Skimmer Systems' Effectiveness

The skimmers will be tested using various oil types in order to determine their oil recovery rate and recovery efficiency.

PHMSA Asks Pipeline Operators to Review Their Integrity Management Programs

The DOT agency's advisory bulletin asks pipeline owners and operators to look for deficiencies like the ones NTSB found in Enbridge's program after a large pipeline spill in July 2010.

Security Exercise Scheduled at California's Folsom Dam

The federal Bureau of Reclamation will conduct it April 23 in cooperation with several other agencies.

Bangladesh, IMO Sign Agreement on Shipbreaking

They agreed to cooperate on a project meant to improve safety and environmental standards in the industry. It will be executed by the Marine Environment Division of IMO, in partnership with the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh, during the next 18 months.

Lloyd's Working on Arctic Ice Regime

The region's "extreme and fast changing risks" call for it to support IMO's Polar Code, which would set safety and environmental standards for ships operating in those waters.

AWWA Releases Cybersecurity Guidance Document

The association notes that the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Agency agree cybersecurity is the top threat facing business and critical infrastructure in the United States.

Groups Urge EPA to Close Pollution Reporting Loophole in Oil and Gas Industry

In an EIP report, it was found that 395 facilities in six states emit over 10,000 pounds of toxic chemicals each year, but don’t report to the Toxics Release Inventory because of a government loophole.

Former BP Engineer Convicted in Deepwater Horizon Case

The Department of Justice announced that a federal court jury convicted Kurt Mix, a former engineer for BP plc, on one count of obstruction of justice for intentionally destroying evidence requested by federal authorities investigating the accident.

U.S. drinking water system operators have been preparing for the federal lead-free law to take effect in January 2014. Four states already have laws in place that comply with or exceed its requirements.

Drinking Water Providers Getting the Lead Out

The Reduction Act calls for reducing lead in new products, new installations, and repairs of systems that deliver drinking water. It takes effect in January 2014.

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