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Kiewit Infrastructure workers placed leveling concrete for an access road below four energy dissipator blocks at the Oroville Dam

Oroville Dam's Partially Rebuilt Spillway May Be Used

The 2017/18 Lake Oroville Winter Operations Plan says the main spillway is to be used if the reservoir's elevation reaches 830 feet during the month of April. Current forecasts show inflows may raise the reservoir to near the 830-foot trigger elevation by the middle of next week. On April 3, the elevation was 794 feet.

Dollar Tree Cited Again in Washington State

"We are seeing the same safety violations at Dollar Tree stores over and over again in Washington," said L&I Division of Occupational Safety and Health Assistant Director Anne Soiza. "It's concerning because this is a national problem, as well. Employees, and sometimes customers, are being put at risk even though the fixes to these safety problems are simple."

West Virginia Debuts Webpage on Pipeline Projects

Information available on the page includes maps of the proposed pipeline routes and a link to WVDEP's searchable online database where additional information, such as any inspection and enforcement actions and any permit modifications, can be found.



The new specification can increase runway capacity by 5 percent at airports operating at or near maximum capacity, according to Eurocontrol.

Enhanced Time Based Separation Implemented at Heathrow

NATS announced that, working with Leidos and Heathrow Airport, it has launched the world's first fully systemized Optimized Runway Delivery tool. It will improve punctuality at the UK's busiest airport.

NASA Awards Big Contract for Design of Quieter Supersonic Aircraft

Under the $247.5 million contract, Lockheed Martin will complete the design and fabrication of an experimental aircraft known as an X-plane that can cruise at 55,000 feet at a speed of about 940 mph and create a sound about as loud as a car door closing, instead of a sonic boom, according to NASA.

MSHA Has Reopened Diesel Exhaust RFI for Comments

MSHA sought information and data on the effectiveness of its current standards and policy guidance on controlling miners' exposure to diesel exhaust -- standards that date to 2001, when an MSHA final rule established new health standards for underground metal and nonmetal mines that use equipment powered by diesel engines.

U.S. Steel Settles CWA Case Involving Wastewater Spill

A consent decree was filed in federal district court in the Northern District of Indiana that requires U.S. Steel to pay more than $600,000 as a civil penalty and to reimburse EPA and the National Park Service for response costs incurred after an April 2017 spill of wastewater containing hexavalent chromium that entered a waterway flowing into Lake Michigan.

Anchorage, State Partner to Increase Felony Prosecutions

"Public safety is our top priority, and we are finding new ways to cooperate across state and municipal lines for the benefit of all Anchorage residents," Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said. "This effort is made possible by the growth of the Anchorage Police Department and the willingness of the prosecuting agencies to adopt innovative solutions in the face of the state fiscal crisis."

CSB Meeting This Week on Recommendations Program, Audits

The board also will consider and possibly vote on a proposed change to Board Order 022, the CSB Recommendations Program, which is how the independent agency hopes to prevent serious accidents. Recommendations are included in CSB final reports.

Illinois Reports Death Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid

To date IDPH has reports of 38 people in the Chicago area and in central Illinois who have experienced severe bleeding and reported using synthetic cannabinoids. All of those individuals have required hospitalization, and three of them tested positive for brodifacoum, a lethal anticoagulant often used as a rat poison.

A recalled 2014 Ranger XP 900 from Polaris Industries, Inc.

Polaris Industries Paying $27.25 Million Civil Penalty

CPSC reported that between December 2013 and July 2016, Polaris received 36 reports of fires associated with its model year 2014 Rangers and made two design changes to the vehicle to prevent the heat shield from becoming loose and falling off.

CDC: U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Rise

The report confirms that recent increases in drug overdose deaths are fueled by continued, sharp increases in deaths that involve synthetic opioids other than methadone, such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

The Hidden Dangers of Chemical Fertilizers

Because the damage caused by chemical fertilizers is often long-term and cumulative, it may be wiser to consider alternative and sustainable methods of fertilizing the soil.

New hi-viz liners can act as an indicator when the outer coating is cut or compromised, prompting workers to replace their gloves before any harm is done. (Ansell photo)

Chemical Growth Fuels Innovations in Hybrid Cut and Chemical PPE

Workers are speaking loud and clear—with increased cut risks abundant in today’s machinery-heavy workspaces, cut protection can be as critical a factor as chemical protection.

Eliminating the need for replacement is the most sustainable practice we can have as manufacturers. By design, durability is one of the most important factors in reducing environmental impact. (Nydree Flooring photo)

The Future of Sustainability

In the next five years, we'll see sustainability in commercial projects moving from a luxury to a requirement. Examining your product and its performance now will put you ahead of the curve.

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