NDEQ has scheduled a Feb. 10 public hearing and is inviting public comment on the proposed Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the former Nebraska Solvents Company site located at 1200 Highway 30 East in Grand Island.

Public hearing: The hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. February 10 at the Grand Island City Hall, 100 East 1st St. The public is invited to provide testimony on the Remedial Action Plan during the hearing. An informal public information session with NDEQ staff will be held at the same location from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

There were no new health alerts this week for harmful algal blooms, and a health alert has ended at Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County. Alerts continue at Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County, Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County and Swan Creek Lake 5A in Saline County.

The state has issued a new health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Kirkman’s Cove in Richardson County. An alert has ended at Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Mike Linder has announced the awarding of $1,499,901 in 59 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.

Sept. 19, 2017 – The Nebraska Safety Council is holding a two-day conference and trade show on October 11 and 12 in Lincoln at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel. The conference will cover safety, wellness and environmental topics. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has been involved in the conference planning and will have two speakers participating in conference sessions. For more information or to register, go to the conference page of the Safety Council website.

Governor Pete Ricketts has designated the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to administer funds allocated to the state from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. NDEQ will now begin seeking input from the public on the development of a plan to best use these funds to benefit Nebraska. Nebraska is expected to receive approximately $12.25 million from the VW Trust.

Feb. 18, 2011 -- The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has scheduled a public hearing in Lincoln on March 22 regarding the proposed issuance of a Pesticide General Permit.

The public hearing will be at 2 p.m. at the Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South, Room A, Lower Level. The hearing will be preceded by an informal public information session, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the same location.

The Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has scheduled the third meeting of the statewide LB1101 Solid Waste Management Study Advisory Committee on October 10h in Kearney. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 510 Talmadge St., Kearney, and the public is welcome to attend.

Some Guidelines On Ways to Protect Our Groundwater

As part of National Ground Water Awareness Week (March 6-12), the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is joining the Ground Water Protection Council and the National Ground Water Association in providing some useful guidelines on ways we can protect our ground water resources.

Two meetings have been scheduled in mid-October to discuss solid waste issues in Nebraska and seek public input as the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) develops a report to present to the Nebraska Legislature. Meetings will be held Oct. 17 in Bridgeport and Oct. 19 in Lincoln.

LB1101, passed in the 2016 legislative session, directs NDEQ to prepare a study to examine the solid waste management programs implemented by the Department.