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

Risky Drinking Water Pathogen Has Outsized Effect on Black Americans

February 24, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

A new analysis shows that rising Legionnaires’ disease cases disproportionately affect Black Americans and people living in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England.

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 21: EPA Watchdog Will Investigate Agency’s Drinking Water Lead Response in Michigan City

February 21, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown An EPA watchdog will investigate the agency’s response to drinking water lead contamination in Benton Harbor, Michigan. An EPA local government advisory committee submits recommendations to the agency for carrying out infrastructure investments. The CDC analyzes trends in the rising number of Legionnaires’ disease The EPA revises its methods for assessing the cost […]

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

Billions Flow to Water Systems from Federal Pandemic Relief Funds

February 17, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Passed nearly a year ago, the American Rescue Plan Act is injecting needed funding into aging water and sewer infrastructure

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 14: Budget Proposal Adds $403 Million for Oahu Drinking Water

February 14, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A budget proposal to keep the government operating includes millions to respond to a fuel leak from an Oahu naval base that contaminated drinking water. The Defense Department appeals a Hawaii state order to drain the fuel tanks at the center of the Oahu drinking water incident. Bipartisan legislation in Congress would update […]

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

Nebraska Agrochemical Contamination Throws Families, Communities, Water Providers into Turmoil

February 9, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The harrowing trail of toxic nutrients in farm country 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

Federal Water Tap, February 7: White House Publishes Infrastructure ‘Guidebook’

February 7, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The White House creates an outline for states, tribes, and local governments to understand new infrastructure funding. The Federal Maritime Commission seeks more information on how Canadian ballast water rules might affect Great Lakes ships. The GAO says the agency that oversees federal prisons should do more to ensure its facilities are prepared […]

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

Is Agrochemical Contamination Killing Nebraska’s Children?

February 2, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The harrowing trail of toxic nutrients in farm country 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

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

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton