Some Guidelines On Ways to Protect Our Groundwater

March 6, 2012 -- As part of National Ground Water Awareness Week (March 11-17, 2012), 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.
 

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will conduct a public information session in Milford on March 27, to provide members of the public the opportunity to discuss a permit renewal and modification proposal for a solid waste landfill operated by G & P Development, Inc.

March 29, 2012 – Presentations from NDEQ's annual Environmental Update, which was held March 22, 2012, are posted below. NDEQ provides updates on a variety of environmental topics at this annual event, and representatives from businesses and industries were invited to ask questions, pick up new information, and provide feedback.

Below are copies of the meeting agenda, and PDF versions of Powerpoint presentations and handouts:

Meeting Agenda

(See attached file: 2012 Env Update Agenda.pdf)
File Size: 73 KB

April 18, 2012 – The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has announced a reduction in the interest rates available to communities to obtain low-interest loans for drinking water and wastewater treatment projects. Interest rates have been reduced in both the Nebraska Clean Water (wastewater) State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) and the Nebraska Drinking Water SRF.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality announced that TransCanada has submitted a report to the agency that assesses alternative routing corridors for the Nebraska Keystone XL pipeline. NDEQ has posted this information on their web site, along with a summary of next steps in the review process, and related information. The web site also provides the public the ability to submit comments and view documents related to this state review.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will conduct a public hearing in Milford on May 15, to provide the public the opportunity to testify or submit written comments regarding a permit renewal and modification proposal for a solid waste landfill operated by G & P Development, Inc. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. May 15 at the Webermeier Memorial Public Library, 617 2nd Street in Milford.

Locations include: O’Neill, Neligh, Albion and Central City

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Mike Linder announced today that the state is awarding $1.86 million to support 131 tire recycling and cleanup projects across the state.

"Nebraskans pay a $1 fee for every new tire they purchase," said Linder. "These grants put that money into use locally to help manage scrap tires. We like to see the highest possible beneficial use of these old tires, and these projects help us reach that goal."

May 24, 2012 – Nebraskans may notice that over the Spring, new signs are being installed along roadways across the state, indicating that they are entering a Drinking Water Protection Area. The signs are designed to raise public awareness about cooperative efforts between the state and local groups to protect the drinking water from contamination in the area. Altogether, over 400 signs will be posted at 158 Drinking Water Protection Areas across the state.

May 30, 2012 -- The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality would like to remind owners of tanks used to store liquid fertilizer that a diking system may be necessary for secondary containment.

“If a spill occurs and there is no secondary containment, the fertilizer could impact our streams, lakes and ground water,” said NDEQ Director Mike Linder. “These secondary containment rules are there to protect our environment and avoid costly cleanups.”

What is secondary containment and when is liquid fertilizer containment required?