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Daily Archives: March 14, 2017

FERC certificates several new natural gas pipelines in 2017

EIA – “Several large natural gas interstate pipeline projects have come online in recent years to support the shifting geography of domestic natural gas production. The Marcellus and Utica shale plays in the Northeast, where production has grown and resources are abundant, are major drivers for pipeline development. In 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certificated 17.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of new natural gas pipeline capacity. So far in 2017, FERC certificated more than 7 Bcf/d of new pipeline capacity before losing its quorum following the departure of one commissioner in February, which left just two sitting commissioners and three vacant seats. FERC oversees the interstate transmission of natural gas, which includes the regulation of interstate transportation rates and services for natural gas pipelines, natural gas pipeline construction, and related pipeline environmental matters. Pipeline certification involves reviewing applications for the construction and operation of natural gas pipelines and ensuring that applicants comply with safety standards. Receiving a certificate is just one step in the process of building and operating a new pipeline; pipelines receiving certification in 2017 will not necessarily come online in 2017. The seven projects certificated during the first few weeks of 2017 include more than 1,500 miles of natural gas pipeline construction and expansions, involving combined additions of more than 7 Bcf/d of capacity. The pipeline projects are concentrated in the eastern half of the United States to improve access to markets for growing eastern natural gas production, and they have projected 2017 and 2018 in-service dates. Two large-capacity projects, the Rover Pipeline Project (and related projects) and the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project, were among those that received certificates in early 2017. The Rover Pipeline will move natural gas out of the Utica shale play that spans parts of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. According to Rover Pipeline LLC, the $4.2 billion project will have direct deliveries in Ohio; West Virginia; Michigan; and Ontario, Canada and will reach a capacity of 3.3 Bcf/d. Construction will begin in the first quarter of 2017…”

Trump Budget Expected To Seek Historic Contraction Of Federal Workforce

White House – “Simply put, government would be smaller and less involved in regulating life in America, with private companies and states playing a much bigger role.” Trump budget expected to seek historic contraction of federal workforce – Washington Post By Damian Paletta – “President Trump’s budget proposal this week would shake the federal government… Continue Reading

Responding to the Mortgage Crisis: Three Cleveland Examples

Keating, W. Dennis and Lind, Kermit J., Responding to the Mortgage Crisis: Three Cleveland Examples (2012). Keating, W. Dennis, and Kermit J. Lind. “Responding to the mortgage crisis: Three Cleveland examples.” The Urban Lawyer (2012): 1-35.. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2931450 “The Mortgage Crisis hit Cleveland early and in circumstances different from most other cities. Cleveland… Continue Reading

Rachel Maddow – Why Presidents Release Their Tax Returns

Why Presidents Release Their Tax Returns [note – this is a commentary on why Presidential candidates release their respective taxes – a significant factual tutorial on this issue that includes discussion of Trump’s past financial ties and foreign connections.] – “Rachel Maddow talks about the precedent for why presidents have released their tax returns and… Continue Reading

Washington DC metro commuters – this GAO report is for you

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:Improved Planning of Future Rehabilitation Projects Could Prevent Limitations Identified with SafeTrack, GAO-17-348: Published: Mar 14, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 14, 2017. “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) planning of SafeTrack did not fully align with leading project management practices. While WMATA generally followed leading practices to coordinate with stakeholders,… Continue Reading

Already recycling cans, glass, cardboard, paper – add Styrofoam please

Via FoamFacts – “Foam #6, commonly referred to as Styrofoam—a trademark of Dow Chemical Company, is also known as expanded polystyrene or EPS…Foam # 6 is a thermoplastic, which means that it can be completely recycled. From a technical standpoint, converting foam into recycled pellets is very easy. And by using widely available compactors specifically designed for… Continue Reading

6 countries named in revised Trump travel order accounted for more than 650,000 U.S. entries since 2006

Pew – “The six nations affected by a new executive order that prevents their citizens from obtaining new visas to enter the United States for 90 days accounted for 649,932 legal U.S. entries between fiscal years 2006 and 2015. This group includes visitors, students and diplomats as well as refugees and new lawful permanent residents,… Continue Reading

Map documents inequality in education in US

Via CityLab: “Neighborhoods in which a person grows up affect his or her future earnings, longevity, and educational outcomes—all of which are, of course, interconnected. That’s vividly evident in a new dot map showing the distribution of the U.S. population by educational attainment. This interactive visualization was created by Kyle Walker, a geography professor at… Continue Reading

Report on crumbling dams throughout US

Follow-up to previous posting – McClatchy – Trump team compiles infrastructure priority list – new via Stratfor – “…there are more than 80,000 dams in the United States, with an average age of 52 years. The suburban sprawl and growing populations have also put more people downstream of dams that once only served agricultural land,… Continue Reading

New Watchdog Demands DOJ Investigation of Records Law Violations

Investigators Will Use Public Records and Legal Challenges to Uncover Misconduct Across Executive Branch Agencies “… American Oversight is led by experienced litigator Austin Evers who will serve as Executive Director and ethics expert Melanie Sloan who will serve as Senior Advisor. Evers and Sloan will be supported by an in-house litigation team and outside… Continue Reading