Information and Updates for AltEn near Mead, Nebraska

DWEE receives plan for fall 2025 land application – July 16, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received a Best Management Practices (BMP) plan for applying treated wastewater from the AltEn facility onto nearby agricultural land in the fall 2025.

AltEn has an NPDES permit that allows the land application of treated wastewater, and this permit requires a BMP plan before land application events occur to ensure the treated wastewater is applied in an appropriate manner.

The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) submitted the BMP plan for fall application on July 8, 2025. It can be viewed on the agency’s public records portal in a document titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed July 8.

The BMP plan, if approved, would allow the application of treated wastewater on 5 sites near the AltEn facility. These 5 sites total 495.62 acres, according to the AFRG.

The agency is currently reviewing the BMP plan.

DWEE receives progress reports for on-site soils and groundwater remedial action plans – July 7, 2025 

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received the AltEn Facility Response Group’s (AFRG) progress reports for both the on-site soils remedial action plan (RAP) and the groundwater RAP.

Both progress reports are available on DWEE’s public records portal in the same document titled “Progress Report,” filed June 26, 2025.

The AFRG’s on-site soils RAP is due Aug. 31, 2026, and its groundwater RAP is due Dec. 31, 2026, per the September 2024 amended memorandum of agreement.

On-site soils RAP progress report

The on-site soils RAP progress report provides the AFRG’s updates specific to its on-site soils work. In this report, the AFRG states it is preparing appropriate screening and remediation criteria that it will propose to DWEE for incorporation into the on-site soils RAP.

Groundwater RAP progress report

The groundwater RAP progress report provides updates on the groundwater-focused actions the AFRG has taken this reporting period (January – June 2025). These actions include two quarterly groundwater monitoring sample events, the re-development of monitoring well AltEn-MW5, the installation of six new monitoring wells, and groundwater sample results

DWEE receives proposed lagoon solids RAP from AFRG – July 3, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received the proposed lagoon solids remedial action plan (RAP) from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG).

The RAP can be viewed on DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Remedial Action,” filed June 30, 2025. In It, the AFRG proposes solidifying the lagoon solids with soil and Portland cement, grading the solids within their respective lagoons, then covering the solids with soil. The AFRG also proposes a long-term maintenance and monitoring plan and institutional controls.

DWEE is reviewing the solids RAP.
 

AFRG submits additional subsoil sample results from northwest lagoon – April 10, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received results from an additional round of soil samples collected beneath the northwest wastewater lagoon at the AltEn Facility.

Sample results can be found on the agency’s public records portal in a document titled “Sampling Results,” field April 2, 2025.

The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) collected soil samples to determine the migration potential of chemicals of potential concern (COPC) from the northwest lagoon into groundwater. The data will also be used to finalize site-specific soil screening levels to be used as soil remediation goals for groundwater protection.

The AFRG collected soil samples from October 29-30, 2024. The AFRG previously collected subsoil samples beneath the northwest lagoon in March 2024. These previous results are also available in the public records portal in a document titled “Sampling Results,” filed April 30, 2024.
 

AFRG resumes hauling wetcake – April 7, 2025

The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) has resumed hauling wetcake from the AltEn facility to an off-site, permitted landfill.

This work is part of the AFRG’s wetcake remedial action plan (RAP), which DWEE approved Dec. 5, 2024. The RAP is available on DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled, “Remedial Action Work Plan,” filed Aug. 23, 2024.

The AFRG will solidify the wetcake on site to load it into trucks and take to a permitted landfill for disposal. According to the wetcake RAP, this work will take place Mondays through Saturdays, with work being suspended for public events at the community’s request. The AFRG aims to have wet cake removal completed by August 2025.

Further information about the hauling can be found in the public records portal in an inspection report titled “Compliance,” filed April 2, 2025

DWEE approves Title 123 permit – March 10, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) approved a wastewater works construction permit for AltEn through Title 123 – Rules and Regulations for the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Works.

The permit approval is available on DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Construction,” filed Feb. 20, 2025.

This Title 123 permit allows the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) to modify its wastewater treatment operations at the AltEn site. The AFRG is shifting its wastewater treatment efforts to address captured stormwater because the lagoon water treatment has been substantially completed.

This shift includes converting the East Treated Water Cell to collect stormwater for treatment, and removing aspects of the wastewater treatment facility no longer needed for storm water treatment.

The AFRG’s initial permit application and subsequent correspondence can also be found in the public records portal in a document titled “Modification Request,” filed Jan. 22, 2025. A revised application is also in the portal, titled “Modification Request,” filed Feb. 18, 2025

DWEE to begin off-site assessment sampling – February 26, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment has finalized its workplan for the agency’s limited scope off-site assessment of potential pollution originating from the AltEn Facility.

The workplan can be viewed in DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Work Plan,” filed Jan. 10, 2025. 

The scope of the workplan includes sampling select farm fields that received untreated wastewater and wetcake from the AltEn facility. DWEE’s contractor will collect soil samples, subsurface soils samples, and groundwater samples from these fields. Data from this sampling will be included in a screening-level ecological risk assessment that will be used to determine if additional assessment is needed. The workplan also includes adding a monitoring well on the AltEn site. 

This preliminary assessment is not viewed as defining the scope of off-site sampling or limiting the locations where samples may be taken as part of a comprehensive environmental investigation. The data gathered will be used to aid in the design and completion of a comprehensive off-site environmental investigation if one is necessary.

The limited scope off-site assessment workplan is not meant to be the complete off-site investigation referenced in DWEE and the AltEn Facility Response Group’s (AFRG) amended Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), but rather will provide information for that off-site investigation and help determine if additional data gathering or an off-site remedial action plan is necessary. See the Sept. 10, 2024, update for more information on the amended MOA.

A previous draft of the workplan, as well as correspondence between DWEE and the AFRG on this topic are also available in the public records portal:

• Draft workplan – “Work Plan Comments,” filed Oct. 10, 2024
• AFRG comments on the draft workplan – “Work Plan Comments,” filed Oct. 21, 2024
• AFRG comments on the draft workplan – “Work Plan Comments,” filed Oct. 25, 2024
• AFRG’s proposed off-site schedule – “Work Plan Comments,” filed Nov. 26, 2024
• DWEE’s approved off-site workplan – “Work Plan,” filed Jan. 10, 2025

DWEE letter to AFRG stating implementation of DWEE’s off-site workplan “Work Plan Comments,” filed Feb. 7, 2025
 

DWEE receives Title 123 permit application – February 5, 2025 

The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) has submitted a construction permit application to modify its wastewater works through Title 123 – Rules and Regulations for the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Works.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) is reviewing the application, which can be found on the agency’s public records portal in a document titled “Modification Request,” filed Jan. 22, 2025.

According to the AFRG’s application, it plans to modify its wastewater treatment operations at the AltEn site. Because AltEn lagoon water treatment has been substantially completed, the AFRG is shifting its wastewater treatment to address captured stormwater. 

This shift includes converting the East Treated Water Cell to collect stormwater for treatment, and removing aspects of the wastewater treatment facility no longer needed for storm water treatment.

DWEE is reviewing the application. Additional information on this topic can be seen in the Dec. 17, 2024, update. 

AFRG submits stormwater management plan – January 14, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received a stormwater management plan from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG). A stormwater management plan describes how a facility manages stormwater runoff to prevent pollutants from leaving the site and entering waterways.

The AFRG’s stormwater management plan is available on DWEE’s public records portal, in a document titled “Stormwater Pollution Prevention,” filed Dec. 16, 2024. The AFRG submitted this plan per the September 2024 amended Memorandum of Agreement.

The stormwater management plan includes designated stormwater outfalls for the site, a sampling plan and benchmark limits for evaluating stormwater water quality, an inspection schedule, reporting requirements, and an approach for evaluating the effectiveness of best management practices on site to manage stormwater.

DWEE is reviewing the plan.

DWEE receives groundwater data gap work plan and progress report for on-site soils remedial action plan from AFRG – January 3, 2025 

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received the AltEn Facility Response Group’s (AFRG) groundwater data gap work plan, as well as a progress report on the AFRG’s on-site soils remedial action plan (RAP).

Both documents are available on DWEE’s public records portal, combined in a document titled “Data Gap Work Plan & Progress Report,” filed Dec. 20, 2024. The AFRG submitted these documents per the September 2024 amended Memorandum of Agreement. 

Groundwater data gap work plan

The groundwater data gap work plan describes how the AFRG will investigate and delineate pollution in groundwater caused by use of discarded treated seed at the AltEn facility. The results from the investigation will be needed to develop a groundwater remedial action plan.

DWEE is reviewing the groundwater data gap work plan. 

On-soils remedial action plan progress report 

In the progress report, the AFRG states that it has conducted soil sampling beneath the wetcake pile, the northwest lagoon, and the northeast lagoon. Moving forward, the plan states the AFRG will conduct subsoil sampling beneath the southeast lagoon once its solids are consolidated and will determine site-specific soil screening levels for groundwater protection and ecological receptors, which it will present to the DWEE, along with soil remediation goals.

The RAP for on-site soils is due to DWEE by Aug. 31, 2026.

AFRG provides plan to convert east treated water lagoon to stormwater retention –  December 17, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received a plan from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) to convert the east treated water cell (lagoon) to store stormwater for treatment.

The plan can be found in DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled, “Construction and Design,” filed Dec. 5, 2024.

The AFRG states that the AltEn lagoon water treatment has been substantially completed. The west treated water lagoon will continue to hold treated wastewater and stormwater.

Work on this project is planned to begin in the spring of 2025. The AFRG must apply for a permit through Title 123 – Rules and Regulations for the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Works before restarting the wastewater treatment plant. 

DWEE approves wetcake RAP – December 9, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has approved the AltEn Facility Response Group’s (AFRG) remedial action plan (RAP) for wetcake at the AltEn site.

The RAP describes the AFRG’s plan to continue on-site solidification of the wetcake for disposal at a permitted, off-site landfill.

The agency’s approval letter can be found on the public records portal in a document titled “Remedial Action Plan Approval,” filed Dec. 5, 2024.

Prior to approving the RAP, the plan was put on public notice to receive public comments. DWEE also held a public hearing Oct. 30, 2024, to hear testimony on the RAP. The agency reviewed the comments and testimony and provided a response summary. This summary was mailed to those who provided comments and is available on the public records portal with the RAP approval document: “Remedial Action Plan Approval,” filed Dec. 5, 2024.

DWEE receives AFRG’s northeast lagoon subsoil sample results – October 31, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has received results from soil samples collected beneath the northeast wastewater lagoon at the AltEn Facility.

Sample results can be found on the agency’s public records portal in a document titled “Sample Results,” field Oct. 30, 2024.

The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) collected soil samples to determine the migration potential of pesticides from the northeast lagoon and compare it to sample results from the northwest lagoon. The data will also be used to refine site-specific soil screening levels for groundwater protection.

The AFRG collected soil samples from July 16-18, 2024. More information on this soil sampling effort can be found in the July 16, 2024, update.

Public hearing, info session scheduled for wetcake RAP - September 27, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) proposes to approve the AltEn Facility Response Group’s (AFRG) wetcake remedial action plan (RAP). The RAP is on public notice and is open to public comment and DWEE has scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the Mead High School gym.

Prior to the hearing, DWEE will hold an information session on the wetcake RAP at 5 p.m. at Mead High School.

The proposed wetcake RAP describes the FRG’s plan to continue on-site solidification of the wetcake for disposal at a permitted, off-site landfill. The proposed RAP is available for review on DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Remedial Action Work Plan,” filed Aug. 23, 2024.

The public may submit written comments on the wetcake RAP on or before Oct. 28, 2024, or testify or provide written comment at the Oct. 30 public hearing.

Comments should be mailed to:

Tom Buell
Monitoring & Remediation Division
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment
PO Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922

Written comments may also be sent via email to: ndee.vcpbrownfields@nebraska.gov.

DWEE, AFRG sign amended Memorandum of Agreement - September 10, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) and the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) have signed an amended memorandum of agreement (MOA), which outlines expectations as the AFRG continues cleaning up the AltEn site through the state’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP).

Through the amended MOA, the AFRG has committed to submitting remedial action plans for lagoon solids, groundwater, and on-site soils. The agreement also provides deadlines for submitting these plans. In addition, DWEE and the AFRG agree to work together in good faith to design and complete an off-site environmental investigation and use the investigation findings to determine if an off-site RAP is necessary.

The MOA is available on DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Memorandum of Agreement (MOA),” filed Sept. 10, 2024.

The AFRG is made up of six seed companies: AgReliant Genetics, LLC; Bayer U.S., LLC; Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.; Corteva Agriscience, LLC; Syngenta Seeds, LLC; and WinField Solutions, LLC. The group first joined the VCP in June 2021. The amended MOA supersedes the previous MOA between DWEE and AFRG dated June 30, 2021.

DWEE approves sites for fall 2024 land application - September 3, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has approved 14 sites for land application of treated wastewater from the AltEn facility.

The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) is authorized to begin applying treated wastewater on these sites. DWEE has directed the AFRG to apply the treated wastewater according to the land’s nutrient budget, at rates that follow the DWEE-approved pesticide thresholds, and follow best management practices.

When approving sites, DWEE also considers the following requirements:

· Setbacks from waters of the state and other water bodies;
· Slope of the land;
· Setbacks from dwellings;
· Setbacks from potable water supplies, including community water supplies; and
· Depth to groundwater.

The final document that includes the approved sites can be found on DWEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Aug. 23, 2024. DWEE’s approval is in a document titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Aug. 26, 2024.

The AFRG’s initial proposal for fall land application is in a document titled “Best Management Practices,” filed July 22, 2024. DWEE provided comments, and the AFRG provided an amended version of the proposal, titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Aug. 13, 2024, prior to submitted the final BMP.

Additional information on the AFRG’s Best Management Practices plan can be found in a July 31, 2024, update.

Documents

Past Press Releases

Archived Updates can be found HERE