ONEOK to build 230-mile pipeline linking Kansas, Denver
ONEOK Inc. has announced plans to expand its pipeline capacity connecting Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast refined products supply with the greater Denver area to meet growing demand and increase connectivity with Denver International Airport (DIA).
The project includes construction of a new 230-mile, 16-inch diameter pipeline from Scott City, Kan., to DIA and the addition or upgrading of certain pump stations along the existing refined products pipeline system. Total system capacity will increase by 35,000 barrels per day (bpd) and will have additional expansion capabilities. The project is expected to cost approximately $480 million and be completed in mid-2026.
Following the close of an open season earlier this year, the project is fully subscribed under long-term contracts.
In May 2024, ONEOK announced a $280 million acquisition of a natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline system from Easton Energy. This system spans approximately 450 miles around the Houston Ship Channel and will be integrated with ONEOK’s existing NGL, refined products, and crude oil infrastructure. The acquisition is set to enhance connectivity and commercial synergies in the Gulf Coast region.
Last year, ONEOK completed its acquisition of Magellan Midstream Partners in an $18.8 billion deal, expanding its portfolio into refined products and crude oil transportation. This strategic move aimed to create a significant midstream infrastructure player with a diversified revenue stream and improved financial flexibility.
FEMA to spend $989 million on Virgin Islands wastewater infrastructure
FEMA is continuing its partnership with the government of the Virgin Islands strengthening critical infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Maria on St. Croix by earmarking $989 million toward making the island’s wastewater system more resilient against catastrophic events.
The replacement of a vast majority of wastewater sewer lines and 14 pump stations on St. Croix is made possible under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. This Public Assistance Alternative Procedures project further demonstrates FEMA’s collaboration with the territory to replace critical facilities and infrastructure destroyed during hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.
FEMA will continue to focus on a collaboration with territorial and other federal partners on a recovery from Irma and Maria that will provide the government of the Virgin Islands the technical and financial resources to replace infrastructure built to withstand future storms.
Texas governor demands CenterPoint improve preparedness following Hurricane Beryl
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has demanded CenterPoint Energy take immediate action to improve their hurricane preparation and response efforts following their repeated and ongoing power failures in the Greater Houston area.
The governor also issued a letter to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas directing them to launch an investigation regarding utility companies’ inability to restore power following Hurricane Beryl’s landfall.
“First and foremost, Texas’ No. 1 goal is to protect life,” said Governor Abbott. “An issue that we see in the ongoing response to Hurricane Beryl are life-based issues, not because of the hurricane itself, but because of the lack of power supply. “
Governor Abbott directed CenterPoint to provide the Office of the Governor with the following action plan by July 31, on how they will address current power issues and reduce the possibility that power is lost in the future:
Virginia town set to begin $104 million CSO tunnel project
Construction of the Blackwater CSO Tunnel, the largest capital improvement project in Lynchburg’s history, is set to begin in the coming weeks, Lynchburg Water Resources (LWR) has announced. The project, part of the LYHBeyond initiative, aims to protect Lynchburg’s waterways from combined sewer overflows (CSO).
The total project cost is $103.9 million, with $50 million funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Blackwater CSO Tunnel will be a nearly mile-long, 12-foot-diameter underground tunnel located 70 to 120 feet beneath Blackwater Creek. It is designed to collect and store up to 4.7 million gallons of combined sewage and stormwater during heavy rains, preventing wastewater from overflowing into local waterways.
Atkinson Construction has been awarded the contract for the tunnel construction, with Stantec handling planning, design and project management.
The Blackwater CSO Tunnel will run from a new CSO 52 Drop Shaft facility on the Point of Honor Trail to a Downtown CSO Pump Station at the bottom of Seventh Street. Mobilization will begin around July 22 at the Seventh Street site, with initial construction noise expected for the first few months. Later in the project, drill-and-blast excavation will be used to clear the tunnel’s path, and a portion of Point of Honor Trail will be temporarily closed. Citizens will be informed before any drill-and-blast operations and trail closures. Construction is expected to take about three years.
The LYHBeyond project continues the city’s 45-year CSO program, which has eliminated 115 of the original 132 sewer overflow points, achieving a 93 percent reduction in wastewater entering waterways. The completion of the Blackwater CSO Tunnel will further reduce overflows, bringing the total reduction to 98 percent.
Worker found unconscious in Kansas City sewer pipe
According to a Kansas City television station KCTV, a construction worker in Missouri was hospitalized in critical condition on July 8 after he was discovered unresponsive in a sewer pipe. Emergency responders arrived at Old Santa Fe Road just before 8 a.m. and located the man inside a 15-foot manhole.
The Kansas City Fire Department reported encountering dangerously low oxygen levels, measuring only 11 percent, which posed a serious risk. Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins told KCTV that standard atmospheric oxygen levels are 21 percent, with anything below 19.5 percent considered hazardous. The cause of the oxygen depletion remains unclear, as no toxic fumes were detected by their meters.
The worker, a 30-year-old male, was found face down in approximately six to 8 inches of water and was initially unresponsive. First responders utilized a rope to extract him from the sewer and administered CPR before transporting him to the hospital.
The worker is employed by Global Earthwork + Underground, a company involved in various projects across Kansas City, including the installation of sewer systems. The company emphasized its commitment to safety and pledged full cooperation with OSHA and local authorities, according to KCTV.
Arizona authorizes $5 billion for Colorado River water legislation
On July 8, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), alongside Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement (NAIWRSA) Act of 2024.
The bipartisan, bicameral legislation ratifies and funds the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, which will address one of the longest-running water issues in Arizona by securing water rights for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
The settlement will provide reliable and safe water for these communities, allowing the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe to lease their water, creating economic opportunities until local demand is met through new infrastructure.
The settlement authorizes $5 billion to acquire, build, and maintain essential water development and delivery projects, including a $1.75 billion distribution pipeline. In total, the Tribes would be guaranteed access to over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, and specific ground water rights and protections. Additionally, this legislation will establish a homeland for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
Kelly’s bill would ratify the settlement agreement, marking a significant step toward securing Arizona’s water future and providing much-needed water delivery systems for the Tribes.
Aging water infrastructure causes major water losses in Texas cities
According to the Texas Tribune, Texas’ largest cities lost around 88 billion gallons of water last year due to old water infrastructure and extreme heat, resulting in significant financial losses and increased pressure on the state's water supply. Self-reported audits reveal that the main contributors to this water loss are leaks and main breaks, despite some loss from inaccurate meters and data issues.
Here's the water loss breakdown for Texas' biggest cities in 2023: Houston, 31.8 billion gallons; San Antonio, 19.5 billion gallons; Dallas, 17.6 billion gallons; Austin, 7.1 billion gallons; Fort Worth, 5.9 billion gallons; and El Paso, 4.8 billion gallons.
Houston and Dallas experienced the largest increases in water loss, the Texas Tribune reported. Houston's loss surged by 30 percent, largely due to a severe drought causing soil to shrink and stress aging pipes. Similarly, Dallas saw an 18 percent rise in water loss, which city officials are currently investigating.
El Paso was the only major city to reduce water loss by 475 million gallons due to a strong focus on maintaining watertight infrastructure.
Jennifer Walker from the National Wildlife Federation told the Texas Tribune that current infrastructure is unsustainable and urged cities to enhance their planning and staffing to mitigate water loss. Additionally, a newly created Texas Water Fund, with a $1 billion investment, aims to address these infrastructure issues, though experts believe much more funding is necessary to tackle the state's water challenges comprehensively.
Texas 2036, an Austin-based think tank, estimates the state will need to invest over $150 billion in water infrastructure over the next 50 years. Despite some funding earmarked for rural areas, larger cities could also benefit from these resources. However, local officials, like those in San Antonio, express skepticism about state assistance and are proactively addressing water loss independently.
Rocky Mountain Power to underground 35 miles of power lines
Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) is undertaking a $2.5 billion project to bury power lines to prevent wildfires across six states, according to Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
In Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, approximately 35 miles of power lines will be relocated underground. The initiative, which has already been implemented in areas like Park City and Millcreek, will start its next phase in Big Cottonwood Canyon next week.
In addition to burying power lines underground, RMP plans to apply protective coatings to some lines to prevent sparks and has installed 480 weather stations for continuous monitoring and risk modeling.
Community support has been strong, despite the project's challenges, recognizing the benefits for wildfire mitigation and improved winter infrastructure, as power outages often occur when trees fall on power lines. UI