Former Alter South

Public Notice

Proposed Remedial Action

West Haymarket Park - Former Alter South Site, Lincoln, NE

Facility ID: 80731       Program ID: 36-336-4943

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81‑15, 185.01 that the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) is proposing approval of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the West Haymarket Park - Former Alter South Site, which is located south and west of the intersection of 7^th and N Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. The site is located in the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 26, Township 10N, Range 6E. 

Soil, soil gas, and groundwater at the site have been contaminated as a result of previous operations. The contaminants of concern (COCs) for soil are arsenic, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, chrysene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. The COCs for soil gas are 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, benzene, and ethylbenzene. 

DWEE is proposing the following remedial actions: 

• Installation of sub-grade utility and other infrastructure within the soil cap area in conformance with the technical and administrative requirements of the West Haymarket Redevelopment Site South (WHRSS) Environmental Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan (Benesch, 2017), pertaining to protection of minimum cap thickness, maintaining/replacing the visible barrier when disturbed, reuse or disposal of soils, and DWEE coordination;

• Installation of a vapor barrier/control system under the floor slab of the Community Building to include required performance monitoring and required O&M manuals provided by the system contractor; and

• Update the activity and use limitations in the existing 2018 Environmental Covenant and the WHRSS Environmental O&M Plan (Benesch, 2017).

DWEE has assigned this groundwater pollution event as RAC-3, with RAC-1 being highest priority and RAC-3 being lowest. This classification was determined because there are no registered drinking water wells in the area, and registered wells that are nearby are for monitoring or recovery of groundwater for heat pump/industrial use. Additionally, future drinking water wells are unlikely due to the city ordinance restricting new domestic wells within city limits. 

The proposed remedial action will address soil and soil gas contamination. The groundwater exposure pathway will not be addressed due to the groundwater remedial action class (RAC) assigned to the site. 

The proposed remedial actions are described in more detail in the RAP, dated July 30, 2025 (DWEE Document ID 2025-0080281). The RAP and supporting documents are available online at https://dee.nebraska.gov/ by selecting “Public Hearings/Notices” at the bottom of the page, then selecting “West Haymarket Park - Former Alter South Site”.

Individuals requiring special accommodations or alternate formats of materials should notify the Department by calling 402‑471‑2186. TDD users should call 800-833-7352 and ask the relay operator to call the Department at 402-471-2186. Si necesita traducción de documentos al Español, por favor llame a DWEE al 402‑471‑2186.   

Any person may submit written comments regarding the proposed remedial action and may also request a public hearing, in writing, on or before September 25, 2025. A request for a public hearing must state the nature of the issue(s) to be raised and all arguments and factual grounds supporting such position(s). If the Director grants a public hearing, the hearing will be advertised by public notice at least 30 days prior to its occurrence. Comments and hearing requests should be emailed to ndee.vcpbrownfields@nebraska.gov or mailed to: 

Tom Buell

Environmental Manager

Remediation Division

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment

245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100

Lincoln, NE 68521

Please note that physical mail must be post-marked no later than September 25, 2025 to be accepted.

Please contact Jim Borovich at jim.borovich@nebraska.gov or 402‑471‑2223 with questions or for more information. 

DWEE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and DWEE does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in or oppose actions protected/prohibited by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.