Air Compliance & Enforcement Program
Compliance
The Compliance Section ensures compliance with air permits and regulations by conducting inspections, responding to complaints, gathering actual emissions data annually, reviewing compliance reports, and, when necessary, carrying out enforcement actions.
NDEE is headquartered in Lincoln and has regional field offices located throughout the state. Our field offices provide better public access to NDEE, reduce response time to citizen complaints, and allow the agency to have a better understanding of local issues. Our field office staff conduct compliance inspections, complaint investigations, sampling, monitoring, and outreach activities for almost all of our regulatory programs.
Through the Nebraska Environmental Protection Act, the Air Program attempts to obtain compliance with environmental regulations first through voluntary efforts. Voluntary compliance has helped bring about a better working relationship with the regulated community without sacrificing environmental quality.
NDEE Compliance Assistance Program
Enforcement
Enforcement actions are pursued by the agency when compliance issues are serious, chronic, or cannot be otherwise resolved. NDEE’s maximum penalty is $10,000 per day per violation. The NDEE works with the Attorney General’s Office on enforcement actions. All penalty monies collected are distributed to the local school district where the violation occurred.
As part of a settlement, the source may voluntarily agree to undertake an environmentally beneficial project related to the violation in exchange for mitigation of the penalty. This is referred to as a Supplement Environmental Project or a SEP. SEPs must be activities that go above and beyond what is necessary to comply with the law.