Photo Courtesy of Heath Consulting Firms say devices already exist to detect escaping methane and will be necessary for compliance with any regulation. Related Links: Fact sheet on White House Plan Datu Research Report on Methane Emissions Technologies and Jobs The Obama administration's proposal to regulate emissions from new and modified oil and natural-gas sources will provide some new work for environmental services companies.That assessment is according to companies that have been working to help oil-and-gas exploration and production companies, pipeline owners and other energy-sector firms identify and mitigate leaks of methane—one of the most potent greenhouse gases. The administration
Rendering Courtesy of Ostara Nutrient Recovery Reactor Reactor unit, as in this rendering, will produce more plant fertilizer from wastewater biosolids. Related Links: Ostara Nutrient Management Solutions Pile driving is underway for construction of Canada's largest-ever nutrient-recovery facility, which will remove phosphorus from sewage solids in Edmonton, Alberta, and use it to make 10,000 kilograms per day of plant fertilizer. The facility will scale up by 20 times a demonstration plant installed in 2007."We are constructing a standard reinforced-concrete slab foundation on top of driven steel piles," says Gavin Post, project manager at Epcor Water Services, Edmonton. The firm and
Photo Courtesy of Southern Co. The Kemper energy facility in Mississippi, now in the startup and testing phase, has garnered international attention as the first U.S. commercial-scale powerplant to implement carbon capture and storage technology, the linchpin of the Obama administration's carbon pollution plan for new powerplants. Related Links: Clean Coal: Is Carbon Capture and Storage Fossil Fuels' Best Hope? Front and center in environmental oversight this year were the Obama administration’s efforts to push through measures to address climate change through regulatory, rather than legislative means.President Obama announced his Climate Action plan in 2013, and federal agencies unrolled several
Related Links: North Dakota Is Bakken Business Studies Find No Link Between Fracking, Water Contamination New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (D) announcement that he would ban high-volume hydraulic fracturing, more widely known as fracking, was praised by environmental groups but largely criticized by those in favor of the oil-and-gas recovery method as a way to revive economically depressed areas in the state.However, some firms that work in the sector say they expect to see little change as a result of Cuomo’s Dec. 17 decision since the state has had a temporary ban on fracking since 2008.Cuomo’s action is based on
Related Links: New Jersey Landfill Mired in Turmoil Applellate Court Decision Text Fenimore Landfill has sparked controversy once again in Roxbury, N.J., after an appellate court ruled that New Jersey's Dept. of Environmental Protection overstepped its authority when it seized the site in 2013.The court found NJDEP did not secure judicial approval before seizing the property under an emergency order and neglected to properly test the site for contaminants it claimed were a danger to the community.The state's emergency order was issued hours after Gov. Chris Christie (R) signed the New Jersey Legacy Landfill Act, a law which allows the
Hundreds of sustainability experts converged on Long Beach, Calif., to discuss engineering resilient infrastructure in a world challenged by sea-level rise and climate change.
Photo Courtesy of Boston Living with Water Boston's design competition focuses on three sites: a waterfront building, a waterfront district and a roadway that already floods. Photo Courtesy of Boston Living with Water Related Links: Greenovate Boston Boston Living with Water In kicking off an international design competition to attract ideas for saving vulnerable areas from the rising tides, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (D) nailed home the importance of taking a regional approach to climate-change preparations by also announcing a multi-city living-with-water summit, set for next spring."When Hurricane Sandy hit, we weren't any more prepared than New York or
Related Links: Governor's Office of Storm Recovery HUD In June 2013, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) established the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery to aid communities—outside New York City—affected by 2012's Superstorm Sandy and 2011's Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Since then, GOSR has guided the rebuilding of nearly 10,000 houses, provided $20.8 million in small-business grants and facilitated the proposal of 600 resilience projects through the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program, according to a recent GOSR report, called "New York Rising: 2012-2014.""There is a pipeline of projects coming out of planning and going into design and
Request your approval for release of responses about LOGCAP support to Ebola region; LOGCAP, ACC-RICC assembled responses.1. What is $ value of the task order awarded to Fluor Corp. related to military housing and facilities for personnel to support Ebola relief, as I understand the purpose?Response: At this time, the total current value awarded to Fluor for support of this mission is $21.1M.2. What is the scope of the task order to construct what type of facilities, for whom, and for how many military personnel?Response: The scope is for emplacement of Force Providers for military use and Ebola Treatment Units
photo by AP Wideworld After burning a dozen houses, the King Fire is now around 90% contained. Related Links: Diverse Interests Hail $7.5-Billion Calif. Water Bond Measure View Cal Fire Incident Reports on Current and Past Fires As the King Fire, which has burned through 97,000 acres of California's Sierra Nevada mountains, started to threaten electricity and generating stations that provide power to Sacramento, late September rains helped avert a potential public emergency.The fire, which started on Sept. 13, was about 90% contained on Sept. 29, after burning a dozen homes and 68 minor structures. "We've been told that the