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.

Staff from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) will participate in a public information session in Kimball on April 16 to discuss the proposed renewal of the air and waste permits for the Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. (CHESI) hazardous waste storage and incinerator facility. The information session will be in conjunction with a meeting of the CHESI Citizens Monitoring Committee. A representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 is also scheduled to attend the information session.

The Nebraska Wildlife Protectors’ Association, in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, is again offering a reward for information resulting in charges filed against anyone illegally and intentionally dumping or discharging wastes into the Shell Creek watershed in Platte County and surrounding area. This is the second year the reward has been offered.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is requesting proposals for grant awards to private and public organizations for diesel emission reduction activities. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded NDEQ a $1.73 million grant, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), aimed at reducing diesel emissions in the state of Nebraska. NDEQ will provide funding assistance to cover up to 100% of the cost for purchasing and installing diesel emission reduction equipment.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Mike Linder announced today that the state is awarding more than $2.5 million to support 126 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."

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is inviting proposals for source water protection projects. Approximately $138,000 in grant funding is available to units and subunits of government, education institutions, and non-profit organizations to carry out projects that will help protect the state’s drinking water sources.

The state has issued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae at Rockford Lake near Holmesville in Gage County. This is the first health alert issued for the 2009 season. Weekly sampling has been conducted at 46 public lakes in Nebraska since the beginning of May.

The state has issued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae for Pawnee Reservoir in Lancaster County, and an alert continues at Rockford Lake in Gage County, which was first placed on alert last week.