Related Links: Corps Develops Strategies for Expected Climate Adaptation New Climate Cycle Marked by Storms, Floods & Drought Sandy-Flooded Sewage Plants Seek Ways to Keep Pumps Running the Next Time Twice a year, Miami experiences extreme high tides, known as "king tides," brought on by gravitational forces. Without any help from rainfall, they can leave streets, yards and driveways under nearly a foot of water. These days, the phenomenon is becoming more of a rule than an exception in the Sunshine State. Experts say it is due to climate change, which is likely to force even higher tides that will
Photo courtesy of USACE The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting several studies on the effects of climate change, including one in the Rio Grande River Basin shown here. Related Links: Cover Story: Water Sector Takes Brunt of Changing Weather According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, its entire portfolio of existing and proposed civil-works water-resources infrastructure projects and programs could be affected by climate change.As a result, Jo Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, released a policy statement in June 2011 that called for integrating climate change and adaptation into all the projects
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Facility decommissioning could cost billions; Southern California Edison will record a $650-million charge in second quarter. Related Links: Life After Fukushima: Industry, Wall Street and government react to Japans growing nuclear crisis Southern California Edison (SCE) is closing down its troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.The plant’s two reactor units have been shut down since early 2012 after a small leak was detected in a steam generator manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.The Rosemead, Calif.-based utility originally submitted plans to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart the reactors, but uncertainty about whether the plan would be
Elevator and design consultants are lauding a new elevator system from KONE Corp. that drastically reduces the weight of the hoisting cables—the bane of tall-building experts.
By replacing heavy steel ropes with special carbon-fiber belts that are lighter in weight, Finland's KONE Corp. believes it has altered the course of high-rise elevator systems.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on May 28 a final $79-million cleanup plan for the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site in central New Jersey. The cost and cleanup are set to be covered by the corporate successor to the firm believed to have contributed most of the site's waste slag, which contains lead.The waste, which came from a smelter once operated by now defunct manufacturer National Lead, was used in the 1960s to construct a seawall and jetty along the southern shore of Raritan Bay, says the agency.EPA added the site to the federal Superfund cleanup list in 2009
Related Links: Big Corrosion Problem May Affect New Bay Bridge Span Plan Enlists Custom Steel Saddles to Repair Broken Bay Bridge Bolts (subscribers only) Three problem projects may test the working relationship among California's Dept. of Transportation, Kiewit and elected officials. Tens of millions of dollars in payments ride on who is to be held responsible for delays and cost overruns on the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the expansion of the Interstate 405 Freeway in Los Angeles and the recently opened Devil's Slide Tunnel in San Mateo County.U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and other officials throughout the state want
Related Links: Nuclear Regulators Ding Firm For Subpar Safety Culture Crews Pour Foundation Mats at Summer and Vogtle Plants South Carolina Electric & Gas said Wednesday it has pushed back by at least six months the estimated online date for V.C. Summer Unit 2, the first of two planned 1,100-MW nuclear units there, because of contractor delays in fabricating and delivering key elements of the $10 billion-plus project.SCE&G, a subsidiary of Scana Corp., said it now expects the first new unit to begin commercial operation in either the fourth quarter of 2017 or first quarter of 2018. Most recently, Unit
The Thursday before Sandy made landfall, Thomas Creamer, Army Corps of Engineers chief of operations for the New York district, touched base with other districts that might be needed.
RSS
