Federal pipeline office proposes $3.7M penalty for 800M gallon Michigan oil spill, agency’s largest fine – @AP

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Federal regulators have proposed a $3.7 million civil penalty against the Canadian owner of a pipeline that ruptured in 2010, dumping more than 800,000 gallons of oil into a southwestern Michigan river.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Monday it’s also proposing 24 enforcement actions against Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge Inc. It would be the largest civil penalty that agency has [...]

When Will Winter Kick into High Gear?

Even a normal second half of the winter would be a big change for many folks. (Louis DiBacco/Photos.com)

There are signals pointing toward a return to large storms over part of the United States along with another cold wave from the Midwest to the East beginning during the middle of January.

While record warmth in the West and a Sierra Nevada snow drought may continue, folks in the East were recently reminded [...]

‘Earth Hour’ fizzling

Downtown buildings go mostly dark to celebrate Earth Hour but lights stay on at the Saddledome, foreground, because of an event in Calgary, Alberta on Saturday March 27, 2010. (Larry MacDougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO — More Canadian municipalities are pledging to power down Saturday for Earth Hour, but an expert says interest in the event may already be fizzling.

Earth Hour has “done a great [...]