A veteran New York City Department of Environmental Protection engineer died in a raw sewage boat explosion on the Hudson River May 25. The 59-year-old chief marine diesel engineer, Raymond Feige, was thrown into the water and trapped between the vessel and the pier at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility. The cause of the blast is currently under investigation.
DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala remembered Feige as a beloved and respected colleague who dedicated over three decades to the department's marine section. His work, though often unseen by the public, was crucial to the city's operations.
Texas Lawmakers Near Major Water Infrastructure Deal
Texas lawmakers are nearing a deal to invest significantly in the state's water infrastructure and future water supply, a plan that could dedicate billions over the next two decades. The Senate has approved House Joint Resolution 7, which will go to voters in November, proposing $1 billion annually until 2047 for water supply projects, infrastructure repair, conservation, and flood mitigation.
Concurrently, the House has given initial approval to Senate Bill 7, which establishes the administrative framework for these water projects under the Texas Water Development Board. The plan also includes an immediate $2.5 billion investment from the state's budget surplus, with over $1.6 billion of that being new funding.
Times Publishes Feature About Imperial Beach Environmental Crisis
The New York Times recently published a feature article about the environmental crisis unfolding in Imperial Beach, California, as millions of gallons of untreated sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow daily from Tijuana, Mexico, into Southern San Diego County.
This longstanding cross-national issue has worsened dramatically due to Tijuana's population growth and the disrepair of sewage treatment plants in both countries. Read the article here.
