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, April 23: In Bay Area Earthquake Simulation, Water Off For Months

April 23, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A magnitude 7.0 quake on the Hayward fault would cut water off for six weeks or more for some residents in counties east of San Francisco. Senate Democrats ask the EPA administrator to set a legally enforceable standard for perfluorinated chemicals in drinking water. At the same time, Michigan’s federal lawmakers asked 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

Federal Water Tap, April 16: U.S. Supreme Court Hears Washington Salmon Case

April 16, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The high court hears arguments this week on the need to rebuild road culverts in Washington state to allow fish to migrate. The House Ag Committee releases a draft farm bill. Federal agencies sign a memo to quicken the environmental review of major infrastructure projects. The EPA finalizes a cleanup plan for 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

Fear and Fury in Michigan Town Where Air Force Contaminated Water

April 11, 2018/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Some residents can’t drink the water or eat the fish. Now they’re organizing. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue OSCODA, MI — Anthony Spaniola knew something was off with his town’s water. He read accounts in the Detroit Free Press and attended community meetings hosted by state health and environment agencies. Until last summer Spaniola […]

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, April 9: Pruitt Changes Clean Water Act Decision Authority

April 9, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Federal Water Tap is a weekly digest spotting trends in U.S. government water policy.

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, April 2: Environmental Reviews for Pebble Mine, Monterey Bay Desalination

April 2, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown NOAA endorses a smaller Monterey Bay desalination facility than was proposed while the Army Corps begins its environmental review of the Pebble Mine. The Justice Department fines chemical and oil companies for dumping harmful substances into a Louisiana bayou. Hoopa Valley tribe disputes the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath basin water plan. 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

What’s Up with Water – Speaking of Water – Who Trusts the Tap (Bonus Episode)

March 29, 2018/in Cities, Drinking Water, Water News/by Brett Walton

Do I trust my tap water? It turns out that the answer is very different for different groups of people.

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 26: Budget Lifts Water Spending

March 26, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Congress puts more money in water infrastructure loan programs. The GAO looks at climate risk disclosures submitted to financial regulators. The U.S. Supreme Court greenlights Flint class-action lawsuits. The BLM evaluates a carbon dioxide pipeline in Wyoming. And lastly the EPA plans to host a perfluorinated chemicals summit. “Therefore, as a matter 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

Perfluorinated Chemicals Health Study Included in Congress Budget Deal

March 22, 2018/in Sanitation/Health, Water News/by Brett Walton

CDC will assess exposure to the chemical at U.S. military bases.

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 19: Western Water Bills, Dam, and Hearing

March 19, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Russian operatives are accused of hacking water and energy utilities. Western senators introduce water bills, while California Republicans try to backdoor a dam expansion. A National Academy of Sciences review of a national climate change assessment finds it accurate and thorough. A Senate committee discusses western water issues. And lastly, the 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, March 12: EPA Denies Alabama Environmental Justice Claim and Unveils Lake Erie Phosphorus Plan

March 12, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Black residents of Uniontown, Alabama, did not convince the EPA that dumping coal ash in a landfill near town was discriminatory. An EPA advisory committee, meanwhile, recommends the agency adopt a human rights approach to water. The EPA’s Lake Erie plan aims for 40 percent phosphorus reduction but the strategy is largely voluntary. […]

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

Kansas Farmers Cut Ogallala Water Use – And Still Make Money

March 6, 2018/in Water & Food, Water News/by Brett Walton

Groundwater conservation helped the imperiled aquifer and did not hurt the bottom line, farmers find.

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 5: Fisheries Service Considers Endangered Species Listing for California Salmon Group

March 5, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Fisheries regulators consider endangered species status for Chinook salmon in the Klamath and Trinity rivers, while the U.S. Geological Survey analyzes a Sacramento River diversion’s effect on salmon. The EPA proposes changes to coal ash regulations. The GAO looks at federal contracts for hurricane response. The Interior Department proposes regional offices based loosely […]

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