Latest news with #JacobsEngineering
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Lake Winnipeg blame game
Opinion The extent to which our governments will go to avoid responsibility has reached new heights. Lake Winnipeg is dying and, instead of rallying all interested parties and levels of government — including First Nations — to the rescue, a sordid skirmish is occurring before the courts. The most absurd claim has come from the City of Winnipeg, which insists that the release of 220 million litres of raw sewage into the Red River last year had little effect on the pollution of Lake Winnipeg. Such a preposterous assertion was made in defence of a $4.8-billion lawsuit by 11 First Nation communities who have a substantial stake in the health of the lake. Municipal, provincial and federal governments have been named as defendants in the suit. Although this court case is focused on the 2024 spill, it has been nearly impossible to obtain an accurate picture of just what the city regularly spills into our rivers. Recently, Free Press writer Julia-Simone Rutgers provided an in-depth article (From muddy to cruddy, May 10) summing up the sheer scale of releases of sewage, and the results are staggering. In the last decade an average of 10 billion litres/year is now the operative figure that will be used by environmentalists and lawyers alike. This can no longer be termed 'de minimus,' it is a disgusting reality that citizens of this fair city must bear. For years the City of Winnipeg has got away with using the local rivers as its backup to a sewer infrastructure that is designed for a much smaller city and is unable to cope with the strains of increased pressure from growth and a changing climate. Federal dollars are pouring in for housing initiatives without supporting the requisite infrastructure. The city received millions to address our housing crisis yet the $166 million MP Terry Duguid announced for infrastructure work barely scrapes the surface of the $3 billion needed to sustain our north end sewage treatment plant. The frustration with government inaction set this lawsuit in motion, as no long-range tripartite funding arrangements have been negotiated, only dribs and drabs of cash committed to upgrade the treatment plant. As far as achieving the separation of combined sewers, the city hired Jacobs Engineering to create a master plan which is designed for future generations to carry the majority of the financial liability. By allowing this neglect to fester into a lawsuit, city hall and taxpayers will be faced with a colossal debt on top of the need to fix their sewage woes. At least the gargantuan spill of February 2024 has triggered both provincial and federal regulations. For much too long, the City of Winnipeg has found ways to avoid charges under federal and provincial environment laws. In this instance they are being applied but both are lacking in transparency. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers laid one charge in April under the federal Fisheries Act, which prohibits the deposit of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish. They will not comment on the charges. The province also took a year to press charges against the city under the environment act and these are before the court, which may result in fines up to $500,000, but likely the fines will be waived as the regulators are part of the problem. It will be a long time before we learn why such a misadventure was allowed to occur at the Abinojii Mikanah bridge last year. The city has certainly not been forthcoming and any attempt to directly reach waste and water officials have been circumvented. Lawyers representing each level of government are scrambling before the Court of King's bench to shirk their responsibility in the $4.8-billion Lake Winnipeg lawsuit. The city has laid cross-claims against the province and feds, while the province has filed a cross-claim against the city and insist that First Nations water quality is a federal responsibility. The blame game has begun. Frankly, the public should feel embarrassed at the inability of our governments to show any leadership aimed at solving this existential crisis for our shared ecosystem. Uniting to provide solutions for the common good has been usurped by political infighting and finger-pointing. Dave Taylor has drawn attention to the pollution of rivers in Manitoba for several decades and is a regular contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press. Please see his blog at
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
US-based Bechtel bags deal to expand Riyadh's new airport terminals
The US-based Bechtel Company will provide delivery services for three new terminals at King Salman International Airport (KSIA) in Riyadh. The agreement was signed during US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia. The company will work with the King Salman International Airport Development Company to manage the delivery of a terminal for commercial carriers, Terminal 6 for low-cost carriers, and a new private aviation terminal with hangars. When completed, the KSIA will operate six parallel runways and handle 185 million passengers and 3.5 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2050. The project team will prioritise achieving LEED Platinum certification by integrating sustainable practices into the design and construction of all three terminals. The terminals will absorb or replace all existing facilities of the King Khalid International Airport. Bechtel has delivered more than 300 projects in Saudi Arabia, including the newly opened Riyadh Metro. UK-based architecture Foster & Partner is designing the master plan for the airport while another UK-based company will oversee the planning and construction. US-based Jacobs Engineering will provide consulting services for the detailed master plan of the airport and the design of the new runways. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz announced the master plan for KSIA in November 2022. (Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Okaloosa County invites residents to Vulnerability Assessment Project meeting
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners and Jacobs Engineering are holding a second public meeting on April 30 for the Vulnerability Assessment Project. Where dead fish bring life to the party: Flora-Bama's annual Mullet Toss is back According to a news release, the meeting will happen from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Warriors Hall in Crestview, and anyone wanting to learn more about future flood mitigation in the community can attend. Attendees can expect to hear from county staff and Jacobs Engineering representatives about the methodology. They will also receive the results of the countywide assessment. 'I encourage everyone to learn more about where they live and the potential flood risks they may encounter,' Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon said. 'These public meetings give our residents the chance to not only learn about their community but to engage in worthy conversations that can lead to a safer County.' The meeting will allow residents to contribute their opinions on the results from the exposure and sensitivity analysis and to participate in a question-and-answer session at the end of the meeting. Alabama's first dog dies; Gov. Kay Ivey reflects on her 'great friend' The project is aimed at 'safeguarding the unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County against environmental risks, including rising sea levels and flooding,' according to the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Okaloosa County wants residents' opinion on Flood Vulnerability Assessment Project
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Okaloosa County and Jacobs Engineering are inviting community members to attend the second public meeting for the Flood Vulnerability Assessment Project on Monday, Feb. 10. Pensacola passengers can now take nonstop flight to Muscle Shoals: Airport According to a Board of County Commissioners news release, the project is aimed at protecting the unincorporated areas of the county against environmental risks, which include rising sea levels and flooding. Jacobs Engineering representatives and county staff and will speak on the methodology and results of the countywide vulnerability assessment. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide their opinions on results from the exposure and sensitivity analysis, as well as participate in a question-and-answer session at the end of the meeting. 'I encourage everyone to learn more about where they live and the potential flood risks they may encounter,' said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. 'These public meetings give our residents the chance to not only learn about their community but to engage in worthy conversations that can lead to a safer County.' The meeting is to be held Monday from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Okaloosa County Administrative Building Training Room, 1250 Eglin Parkway in Shalimar. The meeting is open to the community and will focus on mitigating future floods and the possible impacts of flood events. Anyone who cannot attend the meeting in person can watch it on the county YouTube page. Escambia County EMS sets open house More information can be found by contacting the Okaloosa County Emergency Management Chief, Ryan Prince. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
