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

After Plumbing Code Setback, Georgia Health Officials Refocus Legionella Prevention Effort

January 14, 2020/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

New working group mulls regulatory options for dealing with America’s deadliest waterborne disease. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue It’s back to the drawing board for the Georgia Department of Public Health as health officials seek to develop rules to prevent the growth in building plumbing of bacteria that cause a deadly lung infection. 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

Federal Water Tap, January 13: House Passes PFAS Bill

January 13, 2020/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown House bill includes controversial provisions that did not make it into a Defense spending bill last month. House Democrats outline climate legislation they plan to introduce later in January. The White House moves to change environmental review procedures. Fourteen climate and weather disasters last year caused more than $1 billion in damages in […]

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 6: EPA Science Advisers Criticize Agency’s Clean Water Act Revision

January 6, 2020/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown EPA independent science advisers say WOTUS rewrite ignores science. A bill to regulate PFAS chemicals under the Clean Water Act is introduced in the House. The USGS analyzes shoreline changes on Alaska’s northern coast. And lastly, the House begins the year by debating a bill to regulate PFAS in drinking water. “The [Science […]

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 30: Streamflow Changes Associated with Ecosystem Decline, USGS Finds

December 30, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. Geological Survey publishes the first national assessment of man-made changes to river flows. A Pennsylvania senator tries again to require mandatory disclosure of fracking chemicals. The EPA proposes not requiring petroleum and coal manufacturers to demonstrate the financial capacity to clean up hazardous wastes. The Army Corps intends to review flood […]

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 23: Budget, Defense Spending Bills Include Rural Water Increase, PFAS Provisions

December 23, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown President Trump signs a budget agreement and a Defense authorization bill. The Interior Department tells a New Mexico group that, after years of missed deadlines, it will not provide funds for a Gila River diversion. The EPA releases guidance for cleaning up PFAS in groundwater. Water bills introduced in Congress deal with Indian […]

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

Dams, Sand Mining Threaten to Wreck Mekong Delta

December 20, 2019/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

More than sea-level rise, unsustainable development on the Mekong Delta is the biggest risk to the delta’s economy and ecology.

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

Against Advice of Health Officials, Georgia Rejects Legionella Rules in New Plumbing Code

December 19, 2019/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Georgia will not join the handful of jurisdictions that have rules for slowing the spread of America’s deadliest waterborne disease.

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 16: Tribal Water Bills Introduced in Congress

December 16, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Senators champion bills on tribal water quality and a water rights settlement in Montana, while the House passes a bill to improve climate change planning on the coasts. The Army Corps estimates it will cost an additional $3.2 billion to raise levees and floodwalls in New Orleans because of subsidence and sea-level rise. […]

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

In Louisiana, Officials Pursue Fixes for Indebted, Failing Water Systems

December 12, 2019/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Louisiana is another state putting priority on merging small, struggling water systems with larger neighbors. It’s offering to cover the capital cost of connection.

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

‘Make Agribusinesses Pay the Full Costs:’ In Blue New Deal, Warren Targets Farm Pollution, Great Lakes

December 12, 2019/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Elizabeth Warren, called for a Blue New Deal, unveiling her plan to protect the oceans, Great Lakes, and the rivers that flow into them from pollution and overdevelopment.

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 9: President Trump Criticizes Low-Flow Toilets

December 9, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown President Trump denounces water-efficient toilets and faucets. The EPA sends a regulatory determination for PFAS in drinking water to the White House for review. Water bills in Congress address aquatic invasive species, western water supplies, drinking water grants, irrigation canal repairs, and more. Congressional negotiators appear to remove certain PFAS provisions from 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

Atmospheric Rivers, Conveyor Belts of Extreme Moisture, Rack Up Heavy Flood Damages in Western United States

December 5, 2019/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Researchers estimate $1 billion in flood damages annually in last 40 years from atmospheric rivers.

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