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This Oct. 18, 2017, photo shows crews placing rebar as the upper chute of the Lake Oroville flood control spillway is constructed. (Ken James/California Department of Water Resources photo)

Cost of Oroville Spillway Repairs Doubles

Heavy rains in February triggered erosion that caused an emergency evacuation of 188,000 downstream residents and necessitated extensive repairs.

Medical Device Manufacturing in Puerto Rico Still Challenged: FDA Chief

More than 50 medical device manufacturing plants operated in Puerto Rico, employing about 18,000 people, prior to the hurricane. Collectively, they manufacture more than 1,000 different kinds of medical devices.

Washington State Adopts Tower Worker Safety Rules

L&I said the most important change is a new wireless section that covers non-ionizing radiation. The rules contain requirements covering expected hazards of tower work, host employer/contractor responsibilities, microwave/laser technology, control of hazardous energy, working during darkness, fall protection, remote cell tower sites, and emergency response and rescue.



Duke Energy Nuclear Plant Under Increased NRC Oversight

NRC said in April, an electrical component on a Catawba Unit 2 emergency diesel generator failed during a scheduled test. NRC said its inspectors reviewed the event and determined that the plant staff had failed to adequately develop and adjust preventive maintenance activities using operating experience, maintenance history, and performance records.

Appeals Court Upholds Florida Emergency Generator Rule

"The ruling from the First District Court of Appeal today reaffirms our position that the top priority of nursing homes and assisted living facilities should be protecting the lives of their patients," Gov. Rick Scott said in an Oct. 19 statement.

NTSB Meeting Nov. 14 on Fatal Amtrak Crash

The crash occurred about 7:50 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2016, and involved a train traveling on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. The train was moving at 106 mph at the time it struck the backhoe -- within the maximum authorized speed of 110 mph.

Researchers Confirm Method for Assessing Body Armor Failure

NIST researchers used positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) to view fibers on a molecular level.

New Orleans Announces Plan to Address Opioid Addiction, Overdoses

"Right here in New Orleans, 166 of our brothers and sisters succumbed to opioid addiction last year and lost their lives to overdose. We can't tackle this problem alone," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.

First Floating Wind Farm Starts Production in Scotland

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, officially opened the 30MW farm, which Statoil operates in partnership with Masdar. The farm is located 25 kilometers offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Apprenticeship Expansion Task Force's Members Announced

An executive order from President Donald J. Trump called for the secretary of Labor to establish a Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion that will identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship programs are insufficient.

Canada Extends Comment Period on Nuclear Emergency Recovery Document

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission wants feedback on a newly proposed regulatory document that is a framework for establishing a recovery plan in the event of a nuclear emergency in Canada.

Texas on the Lookout for School Bus Passing Violators

During 2016 and so far in 2017, Texas Highway Patrol troopers have issued 1,100 citations and 573 warnings for passing a stopped school bus.

Companies often send out an all-staff email if bad weather is predicted, but would employees really know what to do in a serious emergency, be it related to nature or man-made?

Manage Risk Rather than Disasters, UN Secretary-General Says

"An average of 24 million people are pushed into poverty every year by disasters. Many millions are forced to leave their homes. If vulnerable countries are in a constant struggle to rebuild and recover after catastrophic events, we will never achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Big Street Repairs Up to Dallas Voters Next Month

The city's $1.050 billion 2017 bond package is on the Nov. 7 ballot as 10 propositions, each being voted on individually. If they pass, projects will begin late this year or in January 2018.

NFPA Taking Feedback on PPE Question

NFPA is asking whether it should develop a new contamination control standard that identifies best practices for cleaning firefighters' PPE and how gear should be handled after possible exposure to contaminants, or, alternatively, put that information into the existing NFPA 1581 standard.

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