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, August 5: EPA Revokes Pebble Mine Veto

August 5, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA, after criticizing an Army Corps environmental analysis, withdraws its veto of a controversial Alaska mine. Republican senators introduce a bill to limit the scope of the Clean Water Act. An upcoming draft revision of lead-in-drinking-water rules might ban partial lead service line replacements. Hurricane Barry reduces the size of the Gulf […]

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, July 29: Defense Department Announces PFAS Task Force

July 29, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The new defense secretary’s initial action is to establish a task force to address toxic PFAS chemicals. Congress acts on a Florida harmful algal bloom bill and an energy-water bill, while representatives introduce legislation on water infrastructure investment, the Great Lakes, fracking chemicals, and sewage pollution on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Justice Department […]

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

U.S. Groundwater Wells Race Towards Bottom

July 26, 2019/in Groundwater, Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Well depths are increasing across the United States, study 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

Federal Water Tap, July 22: Two Major Water Regulations Await White House Approval

July 22, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A new Waters of the United States rule gets closer to completion, as do revised regulations for lead and copper in drinking water. The Army Corps will study flood-prevention in the back bays of Miami-Dade County. Congressional committees discuss corporate knowledge of PFAS toxicity, working waterfronts, and the costs of climate change. 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

Plumbing Experts Question California’s Post-Fire Water Testing Guidance

June 24, 2019/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Government agencies still defining their roles in post-fire water contamination.

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, June 24: Senate Committee Approves PFAS Package

June 24, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown PFAS package moves along in the Senate. The EPA inspector general opens investigation of a water permit issued for a Minnesota copper-nickel mine, while the VA’s watchdog criticizes Legionella management at a California hospital. USAID reports on its water and sanitation programs. A USDA agency finds that farmers are confused about water testing […]

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

Reservoirs in Parched Chennai, City of Millions, Are Dry. Can Better Forecasting Avert Future Crises?

June 23, 2019/in Water Management, Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The megacity in southern India, as it waits for the monsoon, is not the first to run short of water. It won’t be the last.

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

Chicago’s New Mayor, In Rare Move, Considers Water Shutoff Ban

June 19, 2019/in Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Few cities have complete bans on the practice. But some restrict when water can be turned off and which residents are eligible.

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

Price of Water 2019: Even Without Federal Infrastructure Deal, Cities Continue to Invest

June 18, 2019/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The rising price of water continues to raise questions about affordability for households at the bottom of the income distribution.

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, June 17: Senators Release PFAS Bill Package

June 17, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The legislation aims to force the EPA to regulate at least two PFAS chemicals in drinking water and monitor many others. Because of heavy spring rains, researchers forecast a large Lake Erie algal bloom and Gulf of Mexico dead zone. Eight senators call for more oversight of British Columbia mines that could harm […]

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, June 10: EPA Tries to Limit State Clean Water Act Reviews

June 10, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Disputes over energy infrastructure that states rejected because of water pollution concerns is at the center of an EPA memo seeking to limit state authority. President Trump signs a $19.1 billion disaster aid bill. The White House rejects an intelligence analyst’s written statement for a House climate change hearing. Transportation regulators release a […]

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

With Heavy Spring Rains, Lake Erie Algal Bloom Forecast Gets Worse and Worse

June 7, 2019/in Algae Blooms, Water News/by Brett Walton

The latest Lake Erie forecast projects a large buildup of harmful cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, this summer.

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