Photo by Nicholas Zeman for ENR Leveraged Greenland Group is building the big Metropolis project in downtown Los Angeles. Related Links: Greenland Group's information on Bloomberg.com Shanghai's Greenland Group has become one of the world's largest property developers, with nearly $6 billion in North American projects proposed or under construction. Major contractors such as San Francisco-based Webcor Builders are now at work on sites developed by Greenland Group and its partners. The projects include the $1.4-billion Metropolis project in Los Angeles and the $5-billion Atlantic Yards project in New York City. On the latter project, Greenland is partners with a
Related Links: Crews Battle Ice To Clean Up Yellowstone River Oil Spill Flash Flood Roils Utah Oil Spill Cleanup Arkansas Spill Zone Residents Await Plan to Return Home; New Leak in Missouri Plains All American Pipeline's claim that it could take "months" to determine the cause of the May 19 Santa Barbara spill doesn't make sense to other experts in the field."These are steel pipes," said Richard Kuprewicz, president of Accufacts, a Bellingham, Wash.-based energy consulting company. "This isn't rocket science—a visual examination will usually show the cause of the failure. So, saying they're going to need months to determine
Photo by Todd Harrell/National Guard Geotechnical engineering project won kudos upon 2008 completion but failed in 2015. Related Links: Class-Action Lawsuit Alleges Negligence on W. Va. Airport VIDEO: Landslide at airport (WTAE Pittsburgh) The failure in March of a geosynthetically reinforced runway extension at Charleston, W.Va.'s Yeager International Airport has triggered a lengthy dispute among the facility's insurance carrier, designer Triad Engineering and contractor that will involve millions in damages.The damage liability involving insurer AIG Aero, Triad Engineering, Scott Depot, W. Va., and Pennsylvania contractor Cast and Baker now is estimated at $16 million to $26 million."It's been 55 days
Related Links: Oklahoma Geological Survey Earthquake map Texas Railroad Commission FAQs on Saltwater Disposal Wells Oklahoma and Texas, two oil and gas strongholds that historically applied a very light hand to government regulation, are taking the steps to address the seismic effects of wastewater disposal associated with hydro-fracking.In late April, the Texas Railroad Commission said that it was assessing results from a recent Southern Methodist University study linking disposal well activity to several 2013 earthquakes along an ancient fault line near Azle, Texas. TRC also put Exxon Mobil on notice to show cause as to why certain of its wells
Related Links: Big River Steel Decision in Nucor v. Big River Big River Steel in Osceola, Ark., is speeding up construction after successfully defending against a legal challenge from one of its chief competitors, local neighbor Nucor. Osceola's mayor is pleased."Everything looks good for this plant now," says Dickie Kennemore. "Nucor didn't make us too nervous. You have to remember that the biggest investor in Big River is [the] Koch brothers, and they're bigger than Nucor."The $1.1-billion project also has had significant support from state lawmakers. A $125-million bond package helped to finance the work and locked in Osceola as
Related Links: Drought in Western U.S. Has Water Utilities Considering a Range of Solutions U.S. Drought Monitor In the weeks since California Gov. Gerry Brown (D) issued an executive order mandating a 25% reduction in water use for all urban water users to address what scientists predict could become the worst drought in 1,000 years, the state's energy commission approved water-appliance standards that would dramatically increase performance requirements for building components such as toilets, faucets and urinals."The technology is there, and we're eager to install more-efficient fixtures in buildings," says Courtney Lorenz, director of environmental management at Skanska USA. In
Photo Courtesy of Tar Sands Blockade Testing protocols would aim to prevent pipeline spills, such as in Arkansas in 2013 (above). Related Links: Association of Oil Pipelines Letter Tar Sands Blockade How safe are all the old oil and gas pipelines that crisscross the U.S., and does it make sense to pressure-test most of them? The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration is developing a verification process that may subject to hydrostatic pressure testing as much as 95%, or 182,000 miles, of the U.S. pipelines that transport crude oil, gasoline and other liquids. Up-to-date records also would be required.Evan
Photo by Nicholas Zeman / ENR Downtown Crossing will start cable work at a ramped-up pace. Related Links: $2.6-Billion Ohio River Bridges Project Ramps Up In Louisville $2.6-Billion Ohio River Spans Set for Award in December Crews are grappling with inclement weather and extra responsibilities on the design-build portion of the $2.6-billion Ohio River Bridges Project (ORBP), linking Kentucky and Indiana. The main contractor hopes to ramp up work and stay on schedule.Walsh Group won the $860-million design-build Downtown Crossing contract in 2012, with a December 2016 slated completion. Walsh is also in a $763-million concessionaire contract to build ORBP's
Photo by AP Wideworld Walker supports development but not all and not now, as oil prices are in free fall. Alaska is at an infrastructure development crossroads. With a new governor, crashing oil prices and a $3.5-billion budget deficit, the state is struggling with the fate of several major public-works projects. The trouble has divided lawmakers over the state's energy and transportation future.By an executive order issued in December, Gov. Bill Walker (D) ended new work and spending commitments on six of the state's energy and transportation developments, even though more than $1 billion already has been spent. The work
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard February CSX derailment in West Virginia spilled oil into the Kanawha River. Tracks were inspected three days earlier, the railroad says. Related Links: Pipeline Advocates Question Crude-By-Rail Safety As Crude Oil Shipments Soar, Rail Carriers Step Up Safety A growing tally of oil-train derailments so far this year in the U.S. and Canada—some involving newer, supposedly safer tank cars—has called more attention to what politicians and environmental groups see as poorly maintained, aging infrastructure throughout North America's freight rail network. To address the public's concern, the American Association of Railroads says its members are