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December 2018 Metrics Report

Emerging Risks / Issues:
 

  • There are over 300 former Commodity Credit Corp. grain bin sites in Nebraska. These sites primarily operated in the 60’s and carbon tetrachloride was routinely used to control rodents and pests. Numerous sites have been investigated for historic contamination and USDA has provided some related assistance, however, many sites remain uninvestigated. USDA entered NDEQ’s Voluntary Clean-up Program and NDEQ staff recently completed a prioritization for assessing the uninvestigated sites. Many of the affected properties have been redeveloped and homes or businesses now occupy the properties. Vapor intrusion from carbon tetrachloride is a potential health hazard at these sites and these sites are the highest priority for investigation.

Accomplishments:
 

  • A team from NDEQ won first prize for most profitable farm and second prize for most efficient farm in the UNL “Testing Ag Performance Solutions” competition. The 11 NDEQ staff competed against 19 teams from NE and KS. The Team made decisions about seed corn hybrid, seeding rate, crop insurance, nitrogen application, irrigation management and marketing. The TAPS honor of Most Profitable Corn Farm taught NDEQ staff different ways to discuss water quality issues with producers, related to profitability and efficiency in corn production.

Misc. Items of Note:

  • NDEQ met with the Nebraska Power Association Board (NPA) to discuss a partnership between NPA and NDEQ to address the most efficient use of funds devoted to the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The funds are available from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund. NPA members are interested in electric vehicle charging due to the potential increased load it represents. NPA agreed to contribute $2,000 to help sponsor an electric vehicle charging workshop with the primary objective of identifying the most effective and efficient type and location of charging stations. The workshop will be held in York on March 25th.