Bechtel paid a fine for violating New Hampshire’s wetlands and water quality laws in the construction of a gas pipeline. “PNGTS [Portland Natural Gas Transmission System] began building the 68-mile-long gas pipeline through Coos County in the spring of 1998, with Bechtel acting as general contractor for the project. During construction, DES inspectors discovered many violations of state environmental laws and permit conditions, mostly involving the discharge of sediment into streams and wetlands. Sedimentation and turbidity impair water quality and can damage fish and wildlife habitat as well as wetlands vegetation.”