Oct. 23, 2016 – The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is initiating its triennial review of Title 117 – Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards as required by the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). As part of the review, NDEQ will hold a public hearing in Lincoln on December 20.

December 16, 2016 – Applications for 2017 Waste Reduction and Recycling Grants will be available online from January 4, 2017 through 4 p.m. CST February 1, 2017. Applications must be submitted using the online process.

For more information about the Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant application process, go to https://dee.nebraska.gov/forms/publications-grants-forms/was066.
 

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Jim Macy has announced the awarding of $1,306,370 in 53 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. The Department received nearly $3.6 million in eligible grant requests; an increase of over $900,000 from last year.

Feb. 28, 2018 – The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s draft 2018 Water Quality Integrated Report is now available for public review and comment.

March 8, 2018 -- The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, the University of Nebraska, and Nebraska Game and Parks have joined together to offer a lake management workshop for private land owners. The workshops are free and open to everyone who makes decisions for and about lakes and ponds, or anyone who wants to learn more about protecting them. If you have ever had an algae bloom, fish kill, murky water, or just want to know what’s going on in the lake, this workshop is for you. There is no cost to attend these workshops, but reservations are required.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will conduct a public hearing on April 25 in Grand Island regarding a proposed permit for a proposed new construction and demolition disposal area near Alda.

May 25, 2018 – EPA has announced that they will host two workshops in Nebraska in June to raise awareness and help the regulated industry prepare for and become more comfortable with a new e-Manifest national system for electronically tracking hazardous waste shipments.

NDEQ has announced plans to allocate 25% of Nebraska’s Volkswagen State Trust funds, or approximately $3 million, to provide rebates to replace diesel school buses. These funds will be allocated over the next two to five years. Schools across the state are being notified that the first round of applications are now being accepted, and must be received by Aug. 3, 2018 to be considered for reimbursement. NDEQ anticipates awarding 24 school bus rebates during the first year of this program. NDEQ may adjust the number of rebate awards based on the number of applications received.

The state has issued a health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Kirkman’s Cove in Richardson County. This is the first health alert issued in the 2018 recreational season. Weekly sampling has been conducted at 52 public lakes since the beginning of May.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Jim Macy announced today that the state is awarding $1.59 million to support 106 tire recycling and cleanup projects across the state. The Department received nearly $2.2 million in eligible grant requests.

"The agency received many outstanding applications from across the state,” Macy said. “These funds will provide needed support to local efforts which effectively deal with scrap tires in Nebraska.”