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, March 29: Lawmakers Introduce Barrage of Water Legislation

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

The Rundown Bills in Congress deal with water infrastructure funding, Camp Lejeune water contamination, workforce training, hydraulic fracturing regulation, and Western water supply. EPA Administrator Regan says he will soon appoint an environmental justice adviser. An EPA report identifies hot spots for hazardous spills into drinking water sources. The GAO says that federal agencies are […]

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

EPA Report Identifies Hot Spots for Hazardous Spills Into Drinking Water Sources

March 25, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

EPA report details incidents of toxic spills into groundwater, rivers, or lakes used for drinking water. The data from 2010-2019 provides the most comprehensive report to date on such spills.

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

Michigan’s Rural Water Systems Confront Generations of Inadequate Investment

March 23, 2021/in Water News/by Brett Walton

A critical juncture is reached for providing water to Michigan’s rural communities.

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, March 22: USGS Study Finds Drought Increases Risk of Arsenic in Private Wells

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

The Rundown The Senate confirms Rep. Deb Haaland as the Interior secretary. The Army Corps suspends a Clean Water Act permit for a proposed Minnesota mine. A State Department official urges China to be transparent about its use of water from the Mekong River. The EPA seeks more data on PFAS in industrial wastewater discharges. […]

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, March 15: Biden Signs Pandemic Relief Package with Water Funding

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

The Rundown The pandemic relief package includes more aid to local and tribal governments and for water bill payments. The EPA delays new rules for lead in drinking water so that the agency can review them. The Senate confirms Michael Regan as EPA administrator. An EPA webinar will feature new technology to provide drinking water […]

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

More Work Needed to Meet Global Water Goal, UN Report Says

March 9, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

National governments are not on track to meet ambitious, globally recognized goals to provide universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2030.

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, March 8: Water Provisions Abundant in House Democrats’ Climate Bill

March 8, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A House bill to move the country to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 acknowledges water-energy links. A USDA report finds that farm acreage using cover crops increased by 50 percent. The GAO reviews EPA regulatory actions regarding PFAS. The EPA will review a proposed mine in Minnesota for its effects on the […]

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 Biggest Coal Power Plant in the American West Closed. What Happens with the Colorado River Water It Used?

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

Navajo Generating Station shut down in 2019 and is now being dismantled. The Colorado River water that cooled the plant is part of a broader legal impasse.

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, March 1: House Approves $500M More for Water Bill Assistance

March 1, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The House passes a pandemic relief package that includes $500 million for household water bill assistance. The EPA decides to regulate two PFAS chemicals in drinking water and proposes to monitor drinking water for 29 more. A House Democrat says he wants to increase authorized spending for two main federal water infrastructure loan […]

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

Congress on Track to Approve Millions More in Federal Funding for Water Debt Relief

February 25, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

First-ever federal program for household water-bill assistance could see another $500 million.

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, February 22: Biden Declares Major Disaster in Texas

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

The Rundown Federal agencies respond to the winter storm in Texas. Speaker Pelosi says that a House committee will investigate the shortcomings of Texas’s energy infrastructure. President Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan works its way through Congress and includes more money for household water debt relief. The EPA approved Texas’s request to oversee its […]

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

Speaking of Water: How Can the Biden Administration Deliver on Environmental Justice Pledges?

February 18, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The Biden administration wants to correct a legacy of pollution and under-investment in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.

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