On this day in history: April 25

Methane recovery will be the focus of a day-long workshop for livestock producers Feb. 19 at the York Holiday Inn in York.

The “Methane Recovery from Livestock Operations Workshop” is jointly sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agstar, and the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). The day-long event, which runs from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., is free of charge, but there is an optional $20 fee for participants wishing to have break refreshments and lunch.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Mike Linder has announced the awarding of $1,728,655 in 74 grants for litter cleanup, recycling, and public education programs and activities. Funds for the Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program are generated from a fee charged to certain manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of products that commonly contribute to litter.

Mike Linder, Director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, has assumed a leadership role in a national association of state environmental directors. He assumed the position of President of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) effective January 27, 2009.

Press Release Issued by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

Decision on Nebraska's Impaired Waters List

Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

(Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 3, 2009) - EPA has released its decision on Nebraska's 2006/2008 list of impaired waters.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has $400,000 available in federal grants to reduce diesel emissions in Nebraska. NDEQ is now seeking proposals from private and public organizations who would use these funds to retrofit diesel vehicles with emission control equipment.

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today announced how anticipated American Response and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding would be distributed for wastewater-related projects in Nebraska. Funding decisions were made in consultation with the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

Note: The charts and statistics in this news release have subsequently been updated. For revised information, go to NDEQ’s Recovery pages and select Underground Storage Tanks, located at: http://deq.ne.gov/Recover.nsf/pages/LUST.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is reminding those who store fertilizers and pesticides in bulk that they may be subject to secondary containment and load-out requirements.

With the current economic conditions, those who use or re-sell fertilizers and pesticides are looking to economy of scale to help keep profitability in the picture. As a result, many brokers and applicators are buying these chemicals in larger and larger quantities.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is convening four meetings from late March through mid-April to explain how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for diesel emission reduction will be used in Nebraska. The meetings will provide information on grant opportunities available.