The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has completed the draft mitigation plan for Nebraska’s portion of funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Trust) and is making it available online for public review. Comments are being accepted through Dec. 31, 2017.

In September 2017, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) was designated by Governor Ricketts as the lead agency to administer funds allocated to the state from the VW Trust. As directed by the VW Trust Agreement, these funds are to be used to undertake authorized actions to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in Nebraska. Nebraska is eligible to receive approximately $12.25 million from the Trust.

NDEQ subsequently sought public input and has developed a draft mitigation plan to best utilize these funds to benefit Nebraska and meet the purpose of the VW Trust.

The preferred method of submitting comments is through NDEQ’s online Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Plan comment portal: https://ecmp.nebraska.gov/DEQ-VW/. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to: NDEQ.VWSettlement@nebraska.gov, or by mail to: NDEQ Air Quality Division, P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922. All comments must be received by Dec. 31, 2017 to be considered prior to NDEQ finalizing its initial mitigation plan to submit to the court-appointed Trustee of the settlement for approval.

The draft mitigation plan and additional information about the VW settlement is located at NDEQ’s VW webpage: /aid/air-loans-grants-rebates/volkswagen-environmental-mitigation-trust-fund.