Utah has 81 high-hazard dams needing upgrades to meet state standards, at an average cost of $4.5 million per dam, and that is expected to increase as people move near the dams. "When you're the state engineer and you're looking for a house the two top things on your criteria are: are you below a dam or below a canal?" said Teresa Wilhelmsen, state engineer and director of the Division of Water Rights. "You don't buy there. But people do. They live where they want to live."

Rivian Automotive plans to adopt Tesla's charging standard, joining General Motors and Ford Motor in incorporating the North American Charging Standard port into electric vehicles. Rivian drivers will be able to use over 12,000 Tesla superchargers across North America by next year under the terms of the agreement.

The latest edition of ASTM's official podcast discusses the concrete industry, the technologies driving it forward -- and looks at ways to reduce carbon. And of course, at the heart of it all, the standards that will make it all possible.

Apple's new privacy standards for app developers "hold promise of enhanced transparency, avoiding mishandled data behind the scenes," writes Pierre DeBois, CEO of Zimana, an analytics services company. More details, such as a list of third-party SDKs, will be coming later this year, DeBois notes.

The Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill includes a focus on future use of electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The FAA is working with stakeholders and conducting demonstrations to develop policies and standards to support routine air taxi operations.

The White House on Tuesday released its spring Unified Agenda detailing regulatory priorities for the coming months and several of them are centered on water issues. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to finalize revisions to its lead and copper rule later this year and drinking water standards for six types of PFAS in 2024, while also focusing on Section 401 permitting authority under the Clean Water Act.

Walmart suppliers have eliminated or avoided 750 million metric tons of a 1-billion-ton emission reduction goal set for 2030 as part of the retailer's Project Gigaton, established in 2017. Walmart says it's added new tools, resources and support for the more than 5,200 suppliers that are participating in the effort.

The Cement Association of Canada and member producers unveiled Concrete Zero, an action plan aimed at reducing carbon emissions throughout the cement and concrete industry. The CAC plan focuses on five priority areas, including transitioning to lower-carbon fuels, reducing clinker usage, increasing the use of supplementary cementitious materials and developing carbon capture systems.

Robotics and automation stand to transform engineering, as engineers undertake the heavy task of tackling sustainability challenges, writes Pawel Michalak, global director for innovation at Fugro. These technologies provide opportunities for engineers to develop new skills, making this "a hugely exciting time to lead the change," Michalak says.

While nearly 60% of global workers are "quiet quitting," 18% are "loud quitting," and 44% say they feel a "lot of stress" at work, per Gallup's "State of the Global Workplace 2023" report. In addition, 51% are actively seeking another job, and respondents said the top things that would improve their roles are clear goals, increased autonomy and more recognition.

ASTM's International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ASTM ICAM 2023) will be held Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 at the Hyatt Regency -- Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. It will be hosted by the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) and supported by more than a dozen technical committees. Register here.