The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has conducted additional sampling in the Mead area to gain additional background on the AltEn ethanol facility, and to remain vigilant regarding potential environmental impacts the facility has had on the area.

This sampling effort includes six public water supply wells, four private wells and one soil sample.

Drinking water well sampling

To provide a resource for the public and enhance transparency, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has created a new webpage for updates related to cleanup and mitigation efforts at the AltEn ethanol facility.

To access this information, visit https://dee.nebraska.gov/information-and-updates-alten-near-mead-nebraska or go to https://dee.nebraska.gov and click the link under the header “Information and Updates for AltEn near Mead, Nebraska.”

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will present Proposed Changes to Nebraska Administrative Code Title 129 Nebraska Air Quality Regulationswebinar on Thursday, April 8, at 1 p.m. This free webinar is intended for the regulated community and stakeholders, and is open to the general public.

WHAT: Proposed Changes to Title 129
WHEN: Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 1 p.m.
WHO: Ryan Green, Permit Writer, Operating Permit Section, and Tracy Wharton, Program Specialist, Legal Division

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will present Public Hearing for Nebraska Water Quality Standards Triennial Review webinar on Thursday, April 29, at 10 a.m. This hearing is intended for the regulated community and stakeholders, and is open to the general public through remote or in-person attendance.

WHAT: Public Hearing for Title 117 Nebraska Water Quality Standards Triennial Review
WHEN: April 29 at 10 am
WHERE: 245 Fallbrook Blvd. Lincoln, NE, Lower Level, Hearing Room 031 or online via WebEx

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will present a Source Water Grants Webinar on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 11 a.m. This seminar is for any Nebraska water operator, city representative, contractor, community organizer or NRD member, as well as the general public. It will provide beneficial information for environmental professionals and others involved in water quality management.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will present the webinar “Community Revitalization through Brownfields Redevelopment” on Thursday, May 13, at 11 a.m. CDT. In this webinar, the NDEE Brownfields Program will team up with the Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program (KSU TAB) to demonstrate how the two programs work in conjunction for the benefit of Nebraska communities. Information shared will include grants, resources, and planning tools available that assist with redeveloping blighted and underutilized properties.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will hold four meetings on the Proposed Changes to Title 129 Nebraska Air Quality Regulations. These meetings are intended for the regulated community and stakeholders, as well as the general public. Both in-person and virtual attendance options will be available.

WHAT: Proposed Changes to Title 129
WHEN:

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and its partners have begun weekly sampling of public lakes across Nebraska. This year’s sampling began this week, and no health alerts were issued.

This sampling will test for harmful algal blooms (HABs), also known as toxic blue-green algae, and E. coli bacteria at 53 public recreational lakes across the state. The testing takes place annually from May through September.

Grants for the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) 2022 Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive, Litter Reduction and Recycling, and Scrap Tire programs can be submitted between July 14 and August 25, 2021 (deadline at 4 p.m. CST). The grant term will be January 1 through December 31, 2022. Grant decisions will be announced in December 2021.

The most recent Grant Application Guidance Document can be found at /forms/publications-grants-forms/was075.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will present a Wastewater Lagoon Operation, Maintenance & Regulatory Compliance Webinar on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. This seminar is intended for lagoon operators, caretakers and other stakeholders, as well as the general public. The program will explain lagoon treatment processes, regulatory requirements, and proper lagoon operation and maintenance practices.