Entries by Brett Walton

Two Hurricanes, Two Floods: North Carolina Town Fights To Stay Alive

/in , /by

Brett WaltonBrett 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 […]

Aging Sewer System Imperils North Carolina Town’s Finances

/in , /by

Brett WaltonBrett 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 […]

The Rural Dilemma: Q&A With Al Leonard, Fair Bluff Town Manager

/in , /by

Brett WaltonBrett 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 […]

Photo Gallery: Scenes from Fair Bluff

/in , /by

Brett WaltonBrett 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 […]

Federal Water Tap, June 3: Mississippi Flood Fight Continues

/in /by

The Rundown The Army Corps increases releases from swollen reservoirs in the Mississippi River watershed but delays opening an emergency spillway in Louisiana. Lake Ontario is at a record high as Great Lakes water levels continue to rise as well. A national laboratory reports on hydropower as a key cog in electric grid resilience. FEMA […]

In Mississippi River Flood Fight, Army Corps Prepares to Open Rarely Used Spillway

/in , /by

The Morganza spillway will redirect some of the river’s surging waters to protect Louisiana’s big cities and its levee system.

Federal Water Tap, May 28: EPA Issues Draft Standards for New Drinking Water Contaminant

/in /by

The Rundown Perchlorate is the first new drinking water contaminant to be regulated by the EPA since the 1990s. A $19 billion disaster relief bill is held up in Congress. The House budget committee commits to a spending increase for the EPA. The Army Corps submits a $778 million Asian carp plan. Two water bills […]

EPA Considers Options for Reuse and Discharge of Oil and Gas Wastewater

/in , /by

U.S. oil and gas companies are setting production records, while also pumping up enormous volumes of salty, chemical-laden water. The question now: What to do with the noxious water?

‘It’s Raining Plastic’: Researchers Find Microscopic Fibers in Colorado Rain Samples

/in , /by

“We’re seeing plastics virtually everywhere we look,” U.S. Geological Survey researcher says.

Energy Companies Eye Big Oil and Gas Expansion in Wyoming

/in , /by

Will the fracking boom echo in America’s leading coal state?

Federal Water Tap, May 20: House Democrats Seek To Boost Water Infrastructure Spending

/in /by

The Rundown House spending bill adds hundreds of millions for water systems. The EPA considers additional ways to reuse or dispose of oil and gas wastewater. Senators introduce a bill to establish a total PFAS standard for drinking water and schedule a hearing on PFAS legislation. The EPA adds seven sites to the national Superfund […]

‘Alarming’ Increase in U.S. Hepatitis A Cases, CDC Reports

/in , /by

The resurgence of the viral liver disease hepatitis A is linked to drug use and homelessness.