Brett Walton

About Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club's Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton

Federal Water Tap, January 31: Supreme Court to Review Wetlands Case

January 31, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The nation’s highest court will again take on the Clean Water Act. EPA Administrator Michael Regan commits to improving pollution oversight for marginalized communities. The Bureau of Reclamation, plus state and local agencies, break ground to repair a key irrigation canal in California’s Central Valley. The Biden administration does not renew leases for […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, January 24: Agencies Outline Spending Plans for Infrastructure Bill Funds

January 24, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Army Corps and other agencies outline how they will spend supplemental funds from the infrastructure bill. Two FEMA disaster-prevention grant programs, totaling more than $1.1 billion in funding, have application deadlines this week. The Commerce Department seeks information on the environmental footprint of the semiconductor industry. And lastly, a U.S. Department of […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, December 27: Multiple Watchdog Agencies Investigate Water Contamination on Oahu Naval Base

December 27, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Offices of the Inspector General for the Defense Department and EPA will investigate water contamination from an Oahu naval base. The Justice Department announced a settlement with a southeastern Pennsylvania water authority over sewage spills that violated the Clean Water Act. The Department of Energy reverses a Trump-era rule that relaxed water conservation […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, December 20: Colorado River Agreement, Plus EPA Promises Stronger Lead Rules

December 20, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation and Lower Colorado River Basin states agree to keep more water in a shrinking Lake Mead over the next two years. The EPA says it will allow the revised Lead and Copper Rule to go into effect…but will revise the revisions to strengthen the rule by emphasizing removing all […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, December 13: Jet Fuel Leak Contaminates Water on Oahu Naval Base

December 13, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The FDA, in an overhaul of food safety rules, proposes eliminating an irrigation water testing requirement in favor of farm-wide assessments. A pipeline company faces criminal penalties after spilling 29 million gallons of oilfield wastewater in North Dakota. An executive order requires federal agencies to establish energy and water conservation A fuel leak […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

The Year in Water, 2021

December 9, 2021/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Water Crises Take Center Stage

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, December 6: Senate Bill Would Allow Arizona Tribe to Lease Colorado River Water

December 6, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Arizona senators introduce a bill to allow off-reservation leasing of Colorado River water by the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The USDA will survey Wisconsin homes and businesses near farmland to learn about contaminants in private wells. The EPA allocates $7.4 billion in water and sewer funds from the infrastructure bill to states, tribes, […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Rising Cost of Water in Michigan Leads to Affordability Problems

December 2, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

A growing number of Michigan households are burdened by high water bills, report finds.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Utah’s Water Dilemma

November 29, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Record-breaking drought along the Wasatch Front forces tough decisions about water supply.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, November 29: In Closely Watched Groundwater Case, Justices Rule in Favor of Tennessee

November 29, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Supreme Court issues a ruling in Mississippi v. Tennessee, a first-ever case over an interstate groundwater dispute. The U.S. Geological Survey compiled a national map showing the depth from which groundwater is withdrawn for drinking water. The USGS also is sampling river systems for cyanobacteria and the toxins they produce. And lastly, […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, November 22: Big Water Items in House-Approved Build Back Better Act

November 22, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The House, by a narrow margin, passed the Build Back Better Act that has billions for lead pipe removal, drinking water systems, and more. The EPA proposes reinstating the Clean Water Act definition that existed before 2015. Two federal agencies sign an order affirming their duty to protect the interests of Native American […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, November 15: Justice Department Opens EJ Investigation of Sewage Pollution in Alabama

November 15, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

Justice Department investigators will scrutinize state and local health agencies in an Alabama county notorious for sewage failures.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton