In The News

Engineers have issued a new definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS), which becomes effective on March 20. The regulated community is watching this new definition of WOTUS because it will determine federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.For example, projects involving oil or natural gas development or pipeline construction require federal permitting for impacts from crossing, or otherwise disturbing, WOTUS. Generally speaking, the more impacts to such federally regulated... Read More

The West Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday approved legislation that would target shareholder votes on behalf of a state retirement benefit asset management board that factor in environmental and social principles, dismissing that board’s warnings the bill could cost the state millions.House Bill 2862 would designate “environmental, social and corporate governance” as factors that aren’t to be considered in shareholder votes cast by the state Investment Management Board or fund managers... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) will receive $1 million under the federal Airport Terminal Program (ATP) for airport terminal upgrades.On Feb. 27, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that 104 projects at 99 airports would receive a share of nearly $1 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Fiscal Year 2023.Among those airport projects, CRW will receive $1 million under... Read More

Senate Republicans are trying to put the squeeze on Democrats ahead of an expected vote on legislation next week that would undo parts of a District of Columbia crime bill.The bill would eliminate most mandatory sentences, lower penalties for a number of violent offenses, including carjackings and robberies, and expand the requirement for jury trials in most misdemeanor cases.The legislation was unanimously approved by the D.C. City Council, which then overrode a veto by Washington, D.C.,... Read More

PHILADELPHIA (WVDN) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $36.2 million to West Virginia from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that communities can use to upgrade essential water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies.Nearly half of the funding, which comes through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans helping underserved... Read More

ELLENBORO, W.Va. (WBOY) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding West Virginia $36.2 million for water and sewer upgrades, including new equipment for one local town.According to a release from the Biden-Harris Administration, the town of Ellenboro in Ritchie County will receive $1.5 million to “addresses aging infrastructure” as well as install a new ultraviolet disinfection system and covered sludge press.The press, also called a filter press, will separate liquid from solid... Read More

BUFFALO, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), visited the Toyota West Virginia manufacturing plant in Buffalo, W.Va., last Wednesday, where she received an update on Toyota’s renewable energy capabilities, overall operations, and the plant’s 4T High School Work Program.“Toyota has been a force in West Virginia, and operations in Buffalo are a source of pride for this community and our entire state. I value the close relationship that we have maintained with leaders at Toyota over... Read More

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.),Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, today announced $9,352,225 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support vision research, maternal and child health services, increased allergy, immunology, and transplantation research, and Head Start programs in West Virginia.“I am glad to see HHS invest in these programs... Read More

Republicans on Capitol Hill have spent two weeks torching the Biden administration for what they call a slow response to the Ohio rail disaster — but on Tuesday, some GOP lawmakers urged their colleagues not to rush out laws putting new strictures on freight rail.That means Democrats may face trouble getting a divided Congress to adopt the rail safety proposals that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent to Capitol Hill last week, including tougher braking requirements. And while a handful... Read More

Milton is getting more than $100 million in additional federal funding for construction of a levee to help prevent flooding. The Cabell County town will receive $190.7 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Lower Mud River flood risk management project, according to a news release Monday from U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Read More

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Two of West Virginia’s airports will enjoy a million dollars each from the bi-partisan infrastructure agreement in Washington D.C. U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin this week announced the funding through grants from the Federal Aviation Administration to Charleston’s West Virginia International Yeager Airport and Beckley’s Raleigh County Memorial Airport.In Beckley, Airport Manager Tom Cochran said the funding will be directed toward a project to expand the... Read More

Now that federal earmarks are once again being used by Congress, some lawmakers are correctly seeking input from their constituents back home on worthy projects that may qualify for a Congressionally Directed Spending request.Here in West Virginia, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has reopened a webpage where communities, non-profits and other constituents can submit requests for Congressionally Directed Spending, which is the official term now being used for federal earmarks. But interested... Read More

MILTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Residents who’ve had floodwater get into their homes multiple times are being told relief is on the way.Monday evening, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced the long-awaited floodwall project along the Mud River will receive $190.7 million from the omnibus spending bill.Capito serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.“I think we’ve seen because we had... Read More

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – EPA Director Michael Regan on Tuesday said he wouldn’t let his children play in the East Palestine’s dirt, creeks, or streams that contain rainbow colored chemical residues from a Feb. 3 train derailment as he vowed to hold the Norfolk Southern railroad company responsible for cleanup.In his third trip to the Pennsylvania border community, Regan said clean up continues at a “rapid pace,” and his agency is awaiting a longer-term work plan from Norfolk Southern that will... Read More

As European countries rapidly search for new sources of clean, reliable energy, a bill recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and four of her GOP colleagues would expedite the federal approval process for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) and increase free trade.“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has only further highlighted the urgency for the U.S. to expedite the permitting process for the exportation of natural gas to our allies,” Sen. Capito said on Friday. “This... Read More

The federal government has awarded $1 million each to West Virginia International Yeager Airport and Raleigh County Memorial Airport in Beckley. Charleston Yeager Airport (CRW) will receive $1 million under the Airport Terminal Program (ATP) for a series of projects to upgrade its 1950s terminal building, improve Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and install a new roof.Yeager Airport Director & CEO, Dominique Ranieri, said improving terminal facilities will make for a better... Read More

ORLANDO, Fla. — American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear touted new federal policy guidance for how states might allocate infrastructure funding during a Feb. 27 address at the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition.Spear discussed guidance from the Federal Highway Administration that was updated in February. The agency has a role in overseeing funds approved in 2021’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs ActThe update came about a... Read More

WASHINGTON — A Senate committee has asked the CEO of Norfolk Southern to testify under oath about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, two congressional aides said.CEO Alan Shaw was asked to participate in a coming hearing hosted by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, according to a Democratic aide and a Republican aide.The committee — led by Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the top Republican on the committee — has not publicly... Read More

WASHINGTON (WV News) — Two airports in West Virginia are set to receive federal funding to aid in projects to upgrade terminals.Raleigh County Memorial Airport in Beckley and West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston will each receive $1 million through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Terminal Program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.At Raleigh, funding will be used to expand the airport terminal to accommodate a 50 seat hold room, accessible... Read More