Daily Planning News | June 18--A planning document intended to resolve decades of water conflict in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta was instead greeted by a flood of lawsuits on Monday. At least seven lawsuits were filed in three counties against what is known as the Delta Plan. That law also created the Delta Stewardship Council, a seven-member appointed commission charged with crafting the vision. Sacramento Bee (CA), Jun 18, 05:05 AM
| WASHINGTON - U.S. home construction has risen steadily in the past year, fueled by more buyers and a scarcity of houses for sale. An increase in permits and growing confidence among builders suggest the pace of construction strengthened in May, providing more support for economic growth. And the pace of home construction was still 13.1 percent higher than in April 2012. Associated Press/AP Online, Jun 18, 05:27 AM
| June 18--Baltimore residents will pay less in property taxes but more in stormwater and taxi fees under a $2.4 billion budget approved by the City Council on Monday. The cost of living in Baltimore could go up for many people. The budget includes a 2 percent raise for city workers, but they will see cuts in their health and pension benefits, and civilian employees will start contributing 1 percent of their salaries to their pensions. The Baltimore Sun, Jun 18, 04:37 AM
| June 18--Federal officials discussed a $66 million payment to offset the effects of building a new electric transmission line through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area without disclosing the plan to the public, environmental groups opposing the project allege. The environmentalists, in a court filing this month, claim former U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar made approval of the plan to build the line through the heart of the park conditional upon receipt of the money, which violated federal environmental laws. The Department of the Interior and National Park Service were required to disclose negotiations over the compensation in draft and final versions of the project's environmental impact statement, but failed to do so, the groups say. Morning Call (Allentown, PA), Jun 18, 01:38 AM
| BLOOMBERG -- Detroit (9845MF) is suspending payments on $2 billion of unsecured debt, marketing parking garages and telling retirees to rely on President Barack Obama's health-care law to avoid a record municipal bankruptcy. Those are among proposed changes in a 128-page restructuring plan Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr offered yesterday at a meeting of creditors in Detroit. "We have to strike a balance between the legacy obligations to our creditors and our employees and retirees and the duty as a city to 700,000 residents for lights, police, fire, emergency management, cleaning the streets," Orr told reporters after the meeting. Financial Planning (Online), Jun 17, 12:09 PM
| June 15--How do area communities stack up when it comes to fair housing? That is what the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium is trying to establish, via a regional review. A draft report on the Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is being presented in various local communities, including Mentor on Tuesday. News-Herald (Willoughby, OH), Jun 17, 04:28 PM
| As the General Assembly grapples with how to fund Pennsylvania's deteriorating transportation assets, the Westmoreland County business community would like to weigh in. Facilitating the free flow of goods to the marketplace along with citizens' mobility for business and recreational activities is a core function of government. Keeping up with routine maintenance of existing infrastructure and targeted expansion -- most notably, projects like the Laurel Valley Improvement Project at Route 981 -- will require a massive shift of spending priorities for existing revenue or altogether new funding. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA), Jun 19, 04:42 AM
| MnDOT will be constructing an interchange at the intersection of U.S. Highway 10 and Benton County Road 2. Minor clearing and grubbing work may begin earlier, with minimal impact to traffic. The interchange is an $11.3 million project. St. Cloud Times (MN), Jun 19, 03:36 AM
| June 19--ROCKLAND, Maine -- The future of the Brunswick to Rockland railroad line will be decided over the next 18 months. Maine Eastern Railroad has operated the 56-mile-long rail line for the past 10 years. Its contract with the state was to expire in October 2013, but the company agreed to continue running through December 2014, according to Nate Moulton, director of rail programs for the Maine Department of Transportation, which owns the line. Bangor Daily News (ME), Jun 19, 01:36 AM
| June 19--The National Academy of Environmental Design on Tuesday celebrated the grand opening of its first permanent office in Spotsylvania County. Spotsylvania contributed $200,000 to the nonprofit in the current fiscal year and is scheduled to give it another $300,000 for the fiscal year that begins July 1. NAED Executive Director Linda Sorrento is the only employee working out of the new Spotsylvania office, but she expects to hire a director of business development next month. Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), Jun 19, 01:34 AM
| June 19--WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government has agreed to change the terms of a $1.2 million federal grant to allow the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority to speed up its study of building a mass transit link between downtown Buffalo and Amherst. The Federal Transit Administration agreed to the change at the request of Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., who announced the move on Tuesday. "This simple rule change will save an estimated $1 million and one year in the project's development," Schumer said. Buffalo News (NY), Jun 18, 11:18 PM
| June 18--BENICIA -- Valero's plan to bring in crude oil by train is free of any major environmental hazards, according to the project's environmental report. finds that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because mitigation measures have been added to the project that avoid or reduce all impacts to a less than significant level," the report says. However, some environmentalists have raised concerns about the project's connection to controversial Canadian tar sands oil. Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA), Jun 18, 10:18 PM
| June 18--Yuma County's public transit system, commonly known as YCAT, will be the subject of the next Know Yuma: Inside and Out to be held this week. Guest speaker will be John Andoh, transit director for the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, which has assumed the ownership, administration and operations of YCAT. The organization is comprised of Yuma County and the municipalities of Yuma, San Luis, Somerton and Wellton. Sun (Yuma, AZ), Jun 18, 10:18 PM
| June 18--The huge new development envisioned on the UMore Park property in Rosemount and Empire Township could have anywhere from 25,000 to 35,000 residents and 18,000 to 24,000 jobs, depending on which of four scenarios the University of Minnesota pursues. The numbers were outlined in an environmental study released last month that attempts to describe the impact of the project, which would transform the 7.8-square-mile university property into a master-planned, transit- oriented commercial and residential development that could double Rosemount's population in the next 30 to 35 years. A community meeting is set for Monday. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Jun 18, 09:07 PM
| June 18--When Metro Transit officials cut back public bus service to the west metro community of Mound in 2010, it didn't sit well with Mike Skinner. "We're pretty much stranded out here on the weekends," Skinner said. To help those in need, Skinner and several community leaders created WeCAB --www.wecab.org --a grass-roots ride system that pairs riders with volunteer drivers in five adjoining west metro communities. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Jun 18, 09:06 PM
| June 18--Kay Qualley urges suburban homeowners to go a little wild. Let go of those stodgy 1950s ideals of the perfect turf and add some color and texture to your landscaping with native plants. Native flora will attract native birds, butterflies and compliments, Qualley said. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Jun 18, 09:06 PM
| The Obama administration is considering a plan that would address climate change and limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, sources said. Officials have not yet decided on specific measures, but sources told the Los Angeles Times an announcement could come by mid-July. Power plants account for about a third of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, the Times said, and proposing to curtail the plants' pollution would likely begin a battle in Washington. UPI, Jun 18, 09:26 AM
| June 18--For nearly a year, Empire Township and the city of Rosemount looked extensively into the proposed UMore Park development. With the study finished last month, the next step is for the public to review and comment on it. The scenarios include a variety of residential, commercial and light industrial development that could occur within five to 50 or more years at the UMore property -- a nearly 5,000-acre tract of land owned by the University of Minnesota in Rosemount and Empire Township. Saint Paul Pioneer Press (MN), Jun 18, 08:16 PM
| June 18--EDWARDSVILLE -- The Edwardsville City Council tonight will consider a preliminary plat for a controversial subdivision. Residents of Willow Creek subdivision have protested the preliminary plat for Governor's Way, a new 72-home subdivision planned for 39 acres next to them. Currently the only way in or out of Willow Creek is a single entrance on Gerber Road. Belleville News-Democrat (IL), Jun 18, 08:09 PM
| June 18--LAYTON -- The new $395,000 Layton city splash pad -- with "cutting edge" water features -- is on schedule to open June 29 as part of a Hawaiian luau celebration. The splash pad is unique to the Wasatch Front in that it incorporates an elevated play structure featuring interactive water spray features, dumping buckets and water spinners. "(Layton) is the first entity in the state to have a (splash pad with a) slide activity center," said Holli Adams, project architect with Architectural Nexus of Salt Lake City. Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT), Jun 18, 08:39 AM
| June 18--RoadwaysThough traffic congestion is a frequent gripe for motorists in Central Virginia, two big road projects have started moving toward completion, though both have sparked major controversy. In January, Albemarle County opened up its portion of the Meadow Creek Parkway, offering drivers a quicker route between downtown Charlottesville and northern Albemarle. Last summer, Albemarle officials revived an old plan to build a Western Bypass of U.S. 29, which some believe will better separate highway traffic from local traffic. Daily Progress, The (Charlottesville, VA), Jun 18, 06:50 PM
| June 18--The International Joint Commission next month will hold public hearings on its new water management proposal -- Plan 2014 -- in several Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River communities, including Alexandria Bay. Announcing the start of a public comment period Thursday, the IJC introduced the addition of "trigger levels" to its Bv7 water management proposal, which will allow the binational water regulator to deviate from the regulation plan and take "extraordinary actions" when lake water levels exceed or drop below certain points. For example, while 245.77 feet would be considered a "high trigger level" in mid-November, levels as high as 248.12 feet would be allowed in early June under the new Plan 2014. Watertown Daily Times (NY), Jun 18, 07:03 AM
| June 18--The Orland Park Village Board approved a new 10-year waste removal contract Monday, doubling the number of recycling pickups from two to four times a month. Houston-based Waste Management will continue providing its take-all collection program, which includes refuse, yard waste and recycling. Village spokesman Joe La Margo said doubling the number of recycling days was an important goal for the village in negotiating the new agreement. Chicago Tribune, Jun 18, 06:16 PM
| June 18--Conservative Republican lawmakers have wanted to reform Pennsylvania's prevailing wage laws for several legislative sessions. Several Republican lawmakers have made clear in caucus and in public over the past week that changes to the law setting wage floors for most public works projects will be a key to their support for any transportation funding package. Gov. Tom Corbett has made a major boost to state highway and mass transit funding a priority in this state budget season. Patriot-News (Harrisburg, PA), Jun 18, 06:19 AM
| WASHINGTON - Republicans controlling the House unveiled slashing cuts Tuesday to a program that helps localities build community development projects, while their rivals in the Democratic-led Senate proposed to restore GOP cuts to international food aid and nutrition help for pregnant women. An Energy Department spending bill that would cut President Barack Obama's requests for renewable energy programs, meanwhile, began its advance through the House Appropriations Committee as the battling chambers continued to proceed down wildly divergent budget tracks. At issue was Congress' nuts and bolts budget work - the annual spending bills funding day-to-day agency operations - but it was taking on the appearance of a slow-motion train wreck with the most likely result being even larger across-the-board cuts than were imposed earlier this year. Associated Press/AP Online, Jun 18, 05:00 PM
| June 18--MODESTO -- Modesto's public transit system has joined a national effort that encourages residents to save their gas money and ride the bus. Modesto Area Express is offering free ride coupons in The Bee, welcoming new riders and thanking regular bus passengers. The coupons are good for bus rides on MAX in Modesto until July 6. Modesto Bee (CA), Jun 18, 05:35 AM
| June 18--A Vernon battery recycler shut by the state in April as a health risk to thousands of nearby residents will be allowed to reopen pending a court hearing next month, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled Monday. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control ordered Exide Technologies, one of the world's largest makers and recyclers of lead acid batteries, to suspend operations April 24, saying the facility's arsenic emissions posed "an unacceptable risk to public health." The state also said the plant had been continuously leaking hazardous waste into the ground through faulty pipes. Los Angeles Times, Jun 18, 04:45 AM
| June 18--Environmental groups expressed concern Monday about the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's plan to open up an additional 50,000 acres of Imperial County's Algodones Dunes -- including habitats for several rare species -- to unlimited off-road vehicle use. "I'm shocked that the BLM decided to adopt such a destructive, damaging plan -- right when it should be carefully protecting these wild creatures and places to make up for vast energy projects that are being developed nearby." The BLM plan, to be formally announced Tuesday, effectively doubles the amount of land available for off-road vehicle use. Los Angeles Times, Jun 18, 04:44 AM
| June 18--The state's three major natural gas companies have filed expansion plans to provide gas heating to 280,000 new customers in the next decade, increasing their number of customers by more than half. If implemented, the plans could mean major savings to state residents. Katie Dykes, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, called the state's move toward natural gas a "medium-term" solution that reduces its dependence on home heating oil as well as provides an economic benefit to residents and businesses. News_Danbury, Jun 18, 04:42 AM
| June 18--YADKINVILLE -- If looking out for the environment doesn't give you a warm feeling, maybe zipping up in a snuggly Polartec fleece jacket made of recycled water bottles will. The popular performance fabric is one of many items -- automotive upholstery fabric, men's slacks, sweat-wicking socks -- made of yarn that North Carolina-based Unifi Manufacturing Inc. spins from ground-up plastic bottles and other polyester waste at its plant in Yadkinville. The yarn, sold under the brand name Repreve, is a relatively new product in an old industry that some people think has disappeared from the state. News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), Jun 18, 04:41 AM
| June 18--CHARLOTTE -- Duke Energy is ranked eighth in the country among holding companies for total solar capacity, as measured by Solar Electric Power Association. Among individual utilities, Duke Energy Progress in the Carolinas was ranked eighth nationally for its annual increase in solar. The association reported Duke Energy's regulated utilities have 183 megawatts of capacity available for its customers. Winston-Salem Journal (NC), Jun 18, 04:38 AM
| Washington: The University of California has issued the following news release: Ocean waters melting the undersides of Antarctic ice shelves, not icebergs calving into the sea, are responsible for most of the continent's ice loss, a study by UC Irvine and others has found. The first comprehensive survey of all Antarctic ice shelves discovered that basal melt, or ice dissolving from underneath, accounted for 55 percent of shelf loss from 2003 to 2008 -- a rate much higher than previously thought. US Official News, Jun 18, 04:11 AM
| Boise: Department of Transportation, The State of Idaho has issued the following press release: Idaho's highway agency will be in the spotlight of transportation activists next week when members of its board of directors meet about new rules meant to allow bigger trucks on the state's roads. The Idaho Transportation Board holds a subcommittee on Monday about how to implement legislation that could allow 129,000 pound trucks on designated state and local highways. US Official News, Jun 18, 04:10 AM
| The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is currently working with Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, and West Dundee to develop plans for "Homes for a Changing Region." These plans aim to create a balanced mix of housing, serve current and future populations, and enhance livability. "Homes for a Changing Region" includes the following components: "Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)", Jun 18, 04:07 AM
| June 18--CHESAW -- Despite efforts to work closely over the last five years, the company extracting gold from the Buckhorn Mine near Chesaw and an environmental group that monitors it are likely headed to court, representatives from both groups say. David Kliegman, executive director of the Okanogan Highlands Alliance, said the Buckhorn Mine has failed to establish a working system to collect groundwater, and continues to discharge pollutants that exceed water quality limits. The state Department of Ecology has twice fined Crown Resources, and its parent company, Kinross Gold Corp., for exceeding water quality standards. Wenatchee World, The (WA), Jun 18, 03:21 PM
| June 18--The Cross County Connection public transit system, which has steadily grown in both ridership and service in its first four years, now has a permanent hub at 1630 Carolina Ave. in Orangeburg. Dignitaries gathered on Monday afternoon to cut a ribbon celebrating the completion of what Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller called the "beautiful facility" that replaced the "ugly duckling" nurses' dormitory that was torn down. "It's a great day for all of us. Times & Democrat (Orangeburg, SC), Jun 18, 03:18 PM
| June 18--The majority of Frederick County's watershed areas are suffering from poor biological health and moderate to severe bank erosion, according to a sweeping water quality report released Monday. Human activities such as farming and development are largely responsible for the wide-ranging symptoms of damaged waterways detailed in the four-year assessment, said Shannon Moore, who manages the county's office of sustainability and environmental resources. The study commissioned by the county is the first of its kind and takes stock of bug populations, the amount of food and shelter available for stream life, erosion, and water pollutants. Frederick News-Post (MD), Jun 18, 03:49 AM
| "Climate change effects reduce biodiversity, cause a decline in quality of life, change landscapes and have enormous social consequences. In an interview with IPS, she said that this kind of analysis should be given more attention when decisions are being made about how to protect the environment, and when planning ecological projects, defining environmental education messages and programmes and planning construction or other works that could harm vulnerable areas. "What losses are caused by a tropical cyclone or a prolonged drought?How much would it cost to take clean water to arable lands left without water sources?" IPS - Inter Press Service, Jun 18, 03:43 AM
| June 18--Seattle City Council leaders Monday dealt Mayor Mike McGinn an election-year rebuff, saying they would not recommend funding for one of his signature issues -- studies of a light-rail crossing of the Ship Canal. The council members also modified McGinn's request to speed up a study of light rail from Eastlake to the University District, saying they will instead focus on more immediate bus improvements there. Rasmussen cited deteriorating roads and the need to improve existing bus service, as well as the possible 2016 date for a Sound Transit ballot measure. Seattle Times (WA), Jun 18, 03:36 AM
| June 18--For years, potentially harmful algae have been growing in Lake Elizabeth at Pendleton King Park, depleting oxygen and threatening a fish kill. Now, in a move that could provide lessons for communities across the state, Augusta is taking steps to restore Lake Elizabeth's ecological balance. The Pendleton King Park Foundation Board has secured $50,000 in federal grant money to improve water quality at the popular fishing pond on Augusta's south side, the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy at Phinizy Swamp announced Monday. Augusta Chronicle (GA), Jun 18, 03:09 AM
| June 18--NEWARK -- Want to know where your NJ Transit bus is? Smart phones and computers will be able to answer that question using My Bus Now, a real-time information feature. My Bus Now went live Monday for all intrastate bus routes, including eight routes in Monmouth, 14 in Middlesex, six in Morris and three routes in Somerset counties. Asbury Park Press (NJ), Jun 18, 02:06 PM
| June 18--A new chapter in the history of El Paso's public transportation system will be written this week. After seven years of planning and looking for funding, city officials will break ground on El Paso's new $141.6 million Bus Rapid Transit System. "The groundbreaking will mark the beginning of a new era in transportation for El Paso," Mayor John Cook said. El Paso Times (TX), Jun 18, 02:39 AM
| June 18--Virginia's State Water Control Board voted 5-1 Monday to approve Henrico County's mitigation plan for the Cobbs Creek Reservoir, despite lingering opposition to the idea of using a state forest to offset the large water project's environmental impact on streams and wetlands. With little discussion, the board approved the plan to allow Henrico to rely heavily on state-owned land in mitigating the impact of the 1,100-acre reservoir planned for northern Cumberland County. The reservoir, which is designed to provide for Henrico's water needs for the next 50 years, will affect about 31 acres of wetlands and flood roughly 15 miles of streams. Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), Jun 18, 02:35 AM
| Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered plane that can fly at night, landed at Dulles International Airport on Sunday as part of its first U.S. cross-country trip. Visitors to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center were able to look at the plane Sunday. The Solar Impulse team said there may be a second viewing this week. The Washington Post, Jun 18, 02:13 AM
| June 18--Less than a month after a fiery train derailment in Rosedale, the Federal Railroad Administration Tuesday launched a smartphone mobile application to provide safety information about more than 200,000 highway-rail grade crossings. It also allows users to report information about grade crossings to the FRA. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Rail Crossing Locator will allow users "to improve neighborhood safety and make better personal travel choices." The Baltimore Sun, Jun 18, 01:15 PM
| June 18--Home builders ramped up construction in May, providing an economic boost while they sought to take advantage of an improving housing market defined by low inventory. Housing starts increased 6.8% from revised April figures to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 914,000, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Building permits, an indication of future construction, dropped 3.1% from April, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 974,000. Los Angeles Times, Jun 18, 12:34 PM
| June 18--The Philadelphia region can expect less than half of the $120 billion it needs for transportation over the next 27 years, according to a new long-range plan by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. A draft version of the plan says the nine-county region in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey will be short $68 billion to maintain and slightly expand its network of highways, bridges, public transit, and airports between now and 2040. Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties will have $33 billion for $95 billion in needs, while Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer Counties will have $19 billion for $25 billion in needs, according to projections by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Philadelphia Inquirer (PA), Jun 18, 12:12 PM
| TULSA, Okla. - An investigator says the driver of a Union Pacific Railroad train that failed to comply with slow and stop signals before a deadly 2012 accident in the Oklahoma Panhandle had complained of failing eyesight in recent years. McKay says the driver couldn't always distinguish red, green and yellow lights. The NTSB is meeting in Washington, D.C., to determine the cause of the crash near Goodwell that killed three railroad workers. Associated Press/AP Online, Jun 18, 11:57 AM
| When deciding if a development should be blocked, Arizona water regulators lack the power to consider whether groundwater pumping for the project could lower the neighboring San Pedro River. That's the new ruling by an administrative law judge, who upheld a decision by the Arizona Department of Water Resources that a proposed 7,000-home project in Sierra Vista has enough water for 100 years as required. Norm Fain, a Phoenix water consultant representing Pueblo del Sol, the water company for the Tribute development, said the ruling was appropriate because analyses showed the utility has enough water for 100 years without damaging other groundwater uses. Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), Jun 18, 09:14 AM
| SAN FRANCISCO - The latest domestic energy boom is sweeping through some of the nation's driest pockets, drawing millions of gallons of water to unlock oil and gas reserves from beneath the Earth's surface. But now, as energy companies vie to exploit vast reserves west of the Mississippi, fracking's new frontier is expanding to the same lands where crops have shriveled and waterways have dried up due to drought. In Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, the vast majority of the counties where fracking is occurring are also suffering from drought, according to an Associated Press analysis of industry-compiled fracking data and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's official drought designations. "Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, IA)", Jun 17, 11:13 PM
| WORCESTER - The historic, 19th-century former Odd Fellows Home building that overlooks the north end of the city may soon become a memory. A developer wants to raze the long-vacant, 3-1/2-story brick-and-stone building at 102 Randolph Road and construct in its place a $14.6 million, 61,920-square-foot state-of-the-art rest home residence for 82 elderly persons. Meanwhile, City Manager Michael V. O'Brien is asking the City Council to designate the property as a Site Specific Economic Opportunity Area and as a Certified Project. "Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA)", Jun 18, 10:02 AM
| June 18--Chicago labor and community groups on Monday called on the Chicago Transit Authority to require bidders on future rail car manufacturing contracts to submit detailed plans for creating local jobs. In a letter to CTA president Forrest Claypool, leaders of nine groups complained that work forces in the Chicago area and statewide have not participated in the ongoing manufacture of more than 700 rail cars by Montreal-based Bombardier Transportation, which was awarded a $1.14 billion CTA contract. The groups said the exclusion cost the region and Illinois thousands of jobs. Chicago Tribune, Jun 17, 10:16 PM
| June 17--In his lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Hongrui Jiang has designed a new kind of solar panel that incorporates energy storage right in the panel. The idea is to combine two technologies -- production of energy from sunlight and energy storage -- into one. "Most of the approaches are taking these two solutions into different routes; they solve either the harvesting or the storage problem separately. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI), Jun 17, 10:08 PM
| The 5:51 p.m. Long Island Rail Road train to Hempstead, carrying up to about 1,000 people, had been traveling slowly as it entered one of four East River tunnels, Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. The derailment took place around 6:10 p.m., and it was unclear what caused it. She said when the train got into the tunnel, it started to shake and rock and she could see the car ahead of hers tilted to one side before it derailed. Associated Press/AP Online, Jun 17, 09:59 PM
| June 17--Review a copy of a brochure Galichia Hospital Group, LLC gave to city officials. Review a copy of the agenda for the June 25 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. LAS CRUCES -- Efforts will continue by some Las Crucens to obtain a legal opinion about a planned hospital on a portion of the 110-acre former Las Cruces Country Club, despite comments last week from a Las Cruces developer who said the facility would not be physician-owned. Las Cruces Sun-News (NM), Jun 17, 09:42 PM
| Port Authority of Allegheny County's chief executive tried to mend the agency's poor reputation with some legislators in testimony Monday to the state House Transportation Committee. We are a much leaner operation," interim CEO Ellen McLean told committee members. The House committee held its second hearing on a Senate proposal to generate $2.5 billion annually for transportation needs statewide, including transit. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA), Jun 18, 05:23 AM
| June 17--YOUNGSTOWN -- Strollo Architects is ready to start a $4 million- plus rehabilitation project of the long-vacant Wells Building to turn it into the company's new headquarters with 12 apartments on its upper three floors. But the work won't happen unless the company gets a "reasonable" appraisal on the downtown property at 201 W. Federal St.; obtains financing for the project, which largely rests with the appraisal; and is able to meet and afford the requirements of state and federal agencies, which will provide $1.8 million in tax credits once the project is completed, said Gregg Strollo, the company's president and principal. "We're looking at what we can afford and finance," he said. Vindicator (Youngstown, OH), Jun 17, 05:50 PM
| June 16--A first-of-its-kind plan to deliver offshore wind power to electricity users has been blowing in the wind. But developers seeking coveted ratepayer subsidies are re-imagining it as a New Jersey-only project, rousing new interest from government policy-makers. The U.S. still doesn't have any offshore wind farms despite years of discussion. Asbury Park Press (NJ), Jun 17, 05:22 PM
| Workers at a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant were forced to evacuate a part of the plant due to a carbon dioxide leak, federal regulators said Monday. A second alarm sounded shortly after signaling a CO2 discharge, prompting the evacuation, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The plant's fire brigade responded in accordance with federal regulations and cleared the scene about 9:55 a.m. Monday, a little more than an hour after the alarms went off. UPI, Jun 17, 04:55 PM
| June 17--Click photo to enlarge Michael Bennet and Mark Udall have urged a Senate panel to revisit Federal Railroad Administration safety regulations requiring trains to blare their horns when approaching and passing through crossings. "Municipal leaders from Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Greeley, Windsor and Denver, Colorado, have expressed concerns to our offices that train horn noise is a nuisance for local residents and that it stifles economic development by discouraging businesses and housing developers from building and locating in the heart of their communities," Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, and Bennet, D-Denver, wrote in a June 13 letter. Daily Times-Call (Longmont, CO), Jun 17, 04:24 PM
| June 18--ST. JOSEPH -- The St. Joseph City Council on Monday directed staff to develop plans to replace the government center with a new structure on its current downtown site, costing between $4 million to $4.6 million. At one point, they even considered remodeling the old Kennedy school location. Officials had decided to separate any discussion about city staff and police department space needs from community center discussions. St. Cloud Times (MN), Jun 18, 03:36 AM
| June 15--It's easier to ask the state of California for forgiveness than permission -- at least when you can say you're sorry with a seven-figure check. Just ask entitled Internet billionaire Sean Parker, who loves Big Sur so much that he didn't let little things like permits, penalties or threatened species get in the way of his plans for a lavish wedding amid the redwoods. But once the staff of the California Coastal Commission discovered what he was up to a month ago, they allowed the event to proceed last weekend -- so long as Parker agreed to cough up $2.5 million. 1SF, Jun 18, 11:07 AM
| June 17--A new 10-year county-wide waste disposal plan will save haulers more than one-third on their disposal costs, a savings that could trickle down to residential customers. The Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority will soon release its state-mandated plan to manage trash disposal for the next 10 years. Monroe County garbage haulers now dispose of trash at a landfill or transfer station of their choice, as long as the ultimate waste disposal site is designated in the county's plan and maintains a current agreement with the authority. Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), Jun 17, 11:19 AM
| June 17--A portion of Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood is closed this week. And the freeway conversion project on East Independence Boulevard is moving from proposal to reality, with lanes being diverted and side streets shut down. CSX Railroad is doing maintenance at nearly two dozen crossings in Mecklenburg County over the next month, including this week's project that has shut down Central Avenue between Hawthorne Lane and Pecan Avenue, and next week's work on East Trade Street in Matthews. Charlotte Observer (NC), Jun 17, 09:37 PM
| They're on the cutting edge of trends, but when it comes to one of their major roadways for bypassing the Barclays Center, Park Slope residents like things just the way they are. Denizens of the politically correct neighborhood are rebelling against plans by the Transportation Department to eliminate some left-turn lanes on Fourth Avenue between 15th Street and Atlantic Avenue and cause traffic to merge into two lanes. The grimy thoroughfare is a prime route for motorists trying to avoid traffic jams around the popular new Barclays Center. The New York Post, Jun 17, 10:00 AM
| June 17--NV Energy customers in Southern Nevada could soon get a rebate. The Attorney General's Office of Bureau of Consumer Protection plans to file testimony with the Public Utilities Commission July 17 saying that NV Energy should give that money back to customers because state law doesn't permit the utility to keep the money when the utility earned more than the utilities commission authorized. Under state law, NV Energy is allowed to charge ratepayers enough to cover costs and earn whatever the commission determines is a reasonable rate of return. Las Vegas Sun (NV), Jun 17, 09:03 AM
| June 17--Perrysburg Township is going to accept electric waste on top of its regular recycling starting July 20. The new recycling service is a free and available for Perrysburg Township residents. Township Recreation Director Bob Warnimont said township officials want to watch how things go in July, but if all is well then it may set up the service for year round. Blade (Toledo, OH), Jun 17, 07:14 AM
| June 17--Like other coal-fired power plants, the Cardinal plant along the Ohio River has huge scrubbers and other devices to trap toxic air pollutants and stay within federal clean-air limits. But when it comes to water quality, American Electric Power's Cardinal and most other coal-fired power plants across the nation face no state or federal limits on the mercury, lead, cadmium and other toxins they can dump in streams, rivers and lakes. A U.S. EPA analysis released in April found that power plants produce at least half of the industrial toxins dumped in waterways nationwide. Columbus Dispatch (OH), Jun 17, 06:16 AM
| June 16--Build it, and the people will come. That was the hope of local, county, regional, state and federal leaders who teamed up in 2009 to build a public transit system for Orangeburg and Calhoun counties. And the riders have indeed come -- making more than 132,000 trips on the Cross County Connection buses that circulate through downtown Orangeburg and three college campuses, out to Walmart and the Prince of Orange Mall in one direction, as far as the Greyhound bus station in another direction and up to the Hillcrest recreation area. Times & Democrat (Orangeburg, SC), Jun 17, 05:24 PM
| June 15--Energy companies are facing the prospect of physical and financial losses because of climate change, and the oil industry needs to take the threat more seriously, the chief economist of the International Energy Agency said Friday. "When there is global warming, this will result in much more frequent cyclones, floods and storms," Fatih Birol told the Houston Chronicle. "And this will affect the infrastructure of energy companies -- we think especially for the offshore oil and gas production, in the North Sea, Western Australia, the Gulf of Mexico." Houston_Chronicl, Jun 17, 04:43 PM
| June 17--Rain or shine, 25 volunteers will be at 2318 Camphausen Ave. today by 7:30 a.m. By 8 a.m., the second week of construction will be underway on the House That Grace Built. "It's hard work, but it's fun work, too," Elaine Braughler, 70, a volunteer from Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Millcreek Township, said. Erie Times-News (PA), Jun 17, 05:24 AM
| June 15--Florida's top environmental regulator has denied a permit for a controversial wetlands project, saying it failed to offer a reasonable assurance that it would work. The decision late Friday by Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard Jr. in effect upholds the warnings of the DEP's top wetlands expert, Connie Bersok, who was relieved of duty, investigated and taken off the case last year. The permit was for the Highlands Ranch Mitigation Bank, created in 2008 when a politically influential private equity firm named the Carlyle Group formed a joint venture with a Jacksonville company, Hassan & Lear Acquisitions. Tampa Bay Times (FL), Jun 17, 04:26 PM
| The federal lawsuit over radioactive emissions from a former nuclear fuel plant in Apollo has reached the mediation stage. Mediation provides an important opportunity to settle the lawsuit before it reaches trial, said Steven Baicker-McKee, an assistant professor of law at Duquesne University who has 25 years in private practice handling toxic tort, environmental and energy-related litigation. The 2010 lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh by about 75 Apollo-area residents, claims radioactive emissions from the former nuclear fuels plant in Apollo caused cancer and other illnesses, killing some people. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA), Jun 17, 05:10 AM
| June 17--BOISE -- Faced with repeated opposition over its plans to put a transportation hub in Downtown Boise, Valley Regional Transit is looking for people to participate in a committee that will "provide guidance on the design of the multimodal center, assist with public outreach and help... obtain plan review approval," according to a news release. The committee wil meet at least five times over the next year, with the first meeting taking place June 27. Idaho Statesman (Boise), Jun 17, 04:06 PM
| June 17--BRIDGEPORT -- Luis Rullan's fingers worked the knobs on either side of his seat as he stared intently at two 50-foot mountains of garbage on either side of his glassed-in room on the Wheelabrator Bridgeport plant's fifth floor. With another twist, Rullan dumped them into the feeder hopper, a vent leading to the combustion grater where the garbage is burned at 2,250 degrees Farenheit. "It's a good place to work," said Rullan, who has been employed at the plant for 25 years. Connecticut_Post, Jun 17, 04:40 AM
| June 17--There have always been more seats on Metro-North trains than spaces for commuters who'd like to park and ride. Now with the opening of the new Fairfield Metro station in December 2011 and a West Haven station due to open later this summer, there is an opportunity for some to get off crowded waiting lists and pull into a parking spot-- if they are willing to take the train from another station. There also are about 500 available spaces at the downtown Bridgeport station, enough to absorb almost the entire waiting list for a parking spot in Milford, officials said. Connecticut_Post, Jun 17, 04:40 AM
| June 17--As some U.S. utilities are abandoning old nuclear power plants, Xcel Energy says it's investing $1.8 billion to extend the life of its 40-year-old Minnesota reactors. At the company's Prairie Island nuclear plant in Red Wing, Minn., 1,550 contract workers this fall will replace two massive steam generators -- at $280 million, its single most costly improvement project. "What we are facing here is a lot of spending to extend life another 20 years," Laura McCarten, Xcel's regional vice president, said last Thursday as she invited community members to see the new seven-story-tall steam generators to be installed at Prairie Island Unit 2. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Jun 17, 03:07 AM
| June 17--SARASOTA -- It was the stained glass windows, myrtle wood floors, and gothic round-top doors that made Anita Bartholomew fall in love with the historic house a short distance off of Tamiami Trail. Bartholomew did not know much about the house when she first moved in 13 years ago, but since then she has done her research, throwing in a bit of speculation with her investigation. "Legends that said Ringling built the house were false because he was dead by that time," Bartholomew said. Bradenton Herald (FL), Jun 17, 03:06 AM
| June 17--HIGH POINT -- It was supposed to be the proverbial win-win deal -- corporate utilities and cities and towns providing power in North Carolina would go in together to build nuclear power plants and supply cheaper energy to their customers. A year later, the corporate utilities, cities and towns went in on a deal to build the Catawba Nuclear Station. But the win-win proposition began to erode in the last week of March 1979 when an accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania riveted the nation and shifted the direction of the nuclear industry. High Point Enterprise (NC), Jun 17, 02:48 AM
| When Gensler employees attended a grand opening party in June for their newly renovated offices in downtown Washington, Jeff Barber said he heard one refrain over and over again from his colleagues. "They'd say, 'This finally feels like Gensler,'" said Barber, a principal and managing director of the architecture and design firm. "It started with the lease," said Jordan Goldstein, a principal and managing director who was on the team that worked on the redesign. The Washington Post, Jun 17, 02:13 AM
| As a homeowner with solar panels who has used zero kilowatts off the grid during the last two months, I found the June 10 news article "When the sun doesn't shine, who pays?" If I understand correctly, the power industry says I should pay an additional fee because I need the industry less than others do. So should my utility then be allowed to charge me additional fees for those decisions, too? The Washington Post, Jun 17, 02:13 AM
| June 17--A competition has emerged between Fairbanks Natural Gas Co. and the Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility over who will serve the Fairbanks North Star Borough with natural gas. Fairbanks Natural Gas, or FNG, filed an application with the state Regulatory Commission on April 5 to expand its service area to include nearly all of the populated areas of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. FNG's initial application outlines a plan for $27.5 million worth of private infrastructure investment through 2016. Alaska Journal of Commerce (Anchorage), Jun 17, 11:54 AM
| They range from John Tierney's influential 1996 article, "Recycling is garbage," in the The New York Times magazine, to and beyond "Recycling Reconsidered," the 2012 book by Samantha MacBride, an assistant professor of public policy at Baruch College in New York City. A reviewer sums up one of MacBride's conclusions this way: "She argues that recycling and economic development and zero waste activists are wasting their time. The movement really has not made a significant impact." Grand Forks Herald (ND), Jun 17, 09:50 AM
| June 16--AMERICAN CANYON -- Confident the Great Recession is over, and having reached a deal with its main union, City Council members will consider Tuesday undoing 3-year-old austerity measures imposed to help close a budget deficit. During the next two fiscal years, City Hall will close only over Christmas. At Tuesday's council meeting, the public portion of which starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, council members also are scheduled to consider: Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA), Jun 16, 10:18 PM
| June 17--When the old Montex Textiles plant burned in 2005, it was no ordinary fire. Federal officials ordered an immediate clean-up on the industrial site at Sixth and Cumberland streets in south Allentown, and the owners of the property were charged and fined for illegally storing toxins in the building. Last week, that developer stepped forward, unveiling preliminary plans for a 48-unit residential community, featuring cottage-style housing, a lush green commons and a community garden. Morning Call (Allentown, PA), Jun 16, 10:11 PM
| June 16--Whether you drive an hour to your job in Boulder or exclusively use the bus to get around town, city officials want to hear your opinions on how to improve transit in Boulder and around the region. Already, more than 500 people have used the online tool, but city transportation planners are hoping for a larger response by the end of June, when they'll analyze the results. The tool is just one piece of a larger outreach effort around transit. Daily Camera (Boulder, CO), Jun 16, 09:33 PM
| June 17--The Ohio Department of Transportation, the city of Columbus and Franklin County have been talking to one another about their West Side projects -- they promise. On Friday, ODOT distributed a document outlining some of the measures public officials have taken to curb problems in construction zones in a tight area on the city's West Side. State, county and city projects on I-270, Roberts Road, Trabue Road and others are slowing drivers. Columbus Dispatch (OH), Jun 17, 06:16 AM
| BONN, Germany - From Bangkok to Miami, cities and coastal areas across the globe are already building or planning defenses to protect millions of people and key infrastructure from more powerful storm surges and other effects of global warming. But climate-proofing a city or coastline is expensive, as shown by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $20 billion plan to build floodwalls, levees and other defenses against rising seas. The most vulnerable places are those with the fewest resources to build such defenses, secure their water supplies or move people to higher ground. Associated Press/AP Online, Jun 16, 03:19 PM
| June 16--OAK RIDGE -- Alex and Elaine Papp lived on Barden Drive for almost 15 years before they learned the inconvenient truth about the street in front of their home. "And we're paying taxes for what?" Barden Drive ranks among dozens of predominantly rural, subdivision roads across the Triad that never made it onto the N.C. Department of Transportation's list of state-maintained roadways. News & Record (Greensboro, NC), Jun 16, 01:14 PM
| The Solar Impulse solar plane landed in Washington, D.C., Sunday, completing the fourth leg of a five-flight trek from San Francisco to New York. The plane took off from Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport Saturday at 10:11 a.m. and landed at Washington Dulles International Airport just after midnight, the Solar Impulse blog reported. Fog in Cincinnati caused some concern, but the ground crew used cloths and pipettes to wipe off condensation from the wings, the blog said. UPI, Jun 16, 11:56 AM
| Residents near a fire at a recycling warehouse in Indianapolis were told they could return home Sunday after officials said smoke no longer posed a threat. Health and environmental officials gave the all-clear for residents to return Sunday morning after air-quality tests showed the smoke no longer presented a threat. Residents were told to keep their windows shut though, especially those who have respiratory problems, the Indianapolis Star reported. UPI, Jun 16, 11:21 AM
| June 16--The impact of last year's historic storm on the Northland's roads will be felt for years to come. "Highway 210 is a dilemma," Minnesota Department of Transportation District One Engineer Duane Hill said. But Minnesota Highway 210 between Thomson and Duluth's Fond du Lac neighborhood has not. Duluth News-Tribune (MN), Jun 16, 10:34 AM
| June 16--The long-awaited Cedar Avenue rapid busway, the first of its kind in the Twin Cities, will start all-day, every-day shuttle service between Apple Valley and the Mall of America on Saturday, linking Dakota County into the metro area's growing light rail network. Employing the newest transit technology, the bus rapid transit (BRT) buses will offer level boarding similar to that of light-rail trains, use beams of light to count passengers as they get on, and communicate with traffic signals to stay on schedule. Dakota County Commissioner Nancy Schouweiller, a key supporter of the project, expects Cedar ridership to take off. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Jun 16, 10:06 AM
| June 16--Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., stopped in Greeley on Saturday as a part of his energy tour of Colorado, highlighting the state's balanced approach to energy development. Udall toured Greeley's Water Pollution Control Facility, which completed an installation of solar panels in February. It's worked not just for urban Colorado, but it's worked for rural Colorado." Greeley Tribune (CO), Jun 16, 09:34 AM
| June 16--Editor's note: This is the first installment in a five-part series. Coming Monday: How the falling groundwater levels have affected four North County homeowners and businesses. Deep beneath the peaceful countryside, the North County's primary water source is facing an unprecedented crisis. Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA), Jun 16, 05:35 AM
| June 16--MELROSE -- The owner of a mobile home park in Melrose hasn't started construction on a storm shelter for its residents even though he agreed to build it by the end of June. Rose Park, on the west side of Melrose, has drawn concern from city and county officials because of the dilapidated condition of some of its manufactured homes. Bonner, who owns the park through his company Melrose Community LLC, says legal questions over the property title have held up the project. St. Cloud Times (MN), Jun 16, 03:36 AM
| June 16--HAVERHILL -- The Boston Archdiocese has purchased a large building on Merrimack Street and is in talks with the city for a major downtown project that could also involve the long-vacant F.W. Woolworth building. The Planning Office for Urban Affairs, an arm of the archdiocese dedicated to building affordable housing, has bought the multi-story Newman's Furniture building at 32 Merrimack St. from longtime owner Norman Newman for $667,000, according to paperwork on file with the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds. The property was bought by a corporation called Merrimack Street Owner, LLC. That corporation was formed by the Planning Office of Urban Affairs in Boston, according to the Secretary of State's office. Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, MA), Jun 16, 03:18 AM
| June 16--Metra has failed to come up with a partner to provide wireless Internet service for Chicago's commuters, but one of the New York area's major commuter rail agencies has found a way. A private company, Cablevision Systems Corp., will install Wi-Fi on New Jersey Transit's stations, platforms and aboard trains by the end of 2016, officials from the agency and the company said. And, NJ Transit says, it won't cost the agency or taxpayers a dime. Chicago Tribune, Jun 16, 02:11 AM
| June 16--KITTY HAWK N.C. Most Outer Banks visitors know a trip to the beach is sure to include one constant: wind, and lots of it. No wonder, then, that the U.S. government has chosen a huge swath of water just off the Outer Banks as a potential home for an offshore wind farm in the near future. Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA), Jun 16, 01:38 AM
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