Sept. 5, 2014 -- If you are an animal producer, you may need to request an initial inspection from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to determine if a Livestock Waste Control Facility is needed at your operation. Some questions that every animal producer should ask:

Is my operation an Animal Feeding Operation (AFO)? If so, what size category?
There are two requirements for an operation to be considered an AFO:

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will be coordinating the annual meeting of the Nebraska Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m., and will be hosted at Duo Lift Manufacturing Co Inc. in Columbus, Nebraska. For additional information, please see the meeting agenda below, or contact Ryan Green, NDEQ Small Business and Public Assistance Coordinator, at 402-471-8697.

(See attached file: 10-09-14 SBCAP Meeting Agenda.pdf)

Health alerts for toxic blue-green algae are currently in effect at five lakes in Nebraska. An alert has been issued for Lone Star Lake in Fillmore County. Alerts continue at Big Indian Creek Lake in Gage County, Kirkman’s Cove in Richardson County, Iron Horse Trail Lake in Pawnee County, and Willow Creek Lake in Pierce County.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is announcing that limited funding is available to replace older school buses with new buses that have certified cleaner burning engines. This funding is made possible by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State Clean Diesel Grant program.

Dec. 1, 2014 --The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has received numerous applications from Nebraska schools that are seeking funding to replace older school buses with new buses that have certified cleaner burning engines. This funding is made possible by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State Clean Diesel Grant program.

Dec. 4, 2014 --The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality announced the selection of four Nebraska schools that will receive Clean Diesel reimbursements. The reimbursements will be used to help the schools replace older school buses with new buses that have certified cleaner burning engines. This funding is made possible by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State Clean Diesel Grant program.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s 2017 Clean Diesel Rebate Program is now accepting applications to receive rebates for three types of programs – school bus replacements, diesel refuse truck replacements, and agricultural irrigation pump diesel engine replacements. Applications must be submitted to NDEQ by December 15, 2017 to be considered.

NDEQ established the Nebraska Clean Diesel Program in 2008 to distribute funding received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of reducing diesel emissions in the state.

Jan. 2, 2015 – The online application and instructions for those applying for 2015 Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive grants is now available. The deadline for filing applications for 2015 is 4 p.m. Feb. 5, 2015. Below is a link to the waste grants program page, which provides access to grant applications and instructions:
 

Waste Reduction and Recycling Grants Program

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Acting Director Pat Rice has announced the awarding of $2,099,364 in 57 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. The program has been providing grants annually since 1979.

October 26, 2017 -- Public comments will continue to be accepted through November 7 regarding the development of a solid waste management study that will be finalized and submitted to the Nebraska Legislature in mid-December.

LB1101, passed in the 2016 legislative session, directs the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to prepare a study to examine the solid waste management programs implemented by the Department. The purpose of the study is to examine the need to modernize and potentially revise the state’s solid waste management programs.