In conjunction with the U.S. EPA and numerous other organizations, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is recognizing Air Quality Awareness Week, which runs from April 29 to May 3, 2019. For more information about Air Quality Awareness Week, visit EPA’s web page at https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/.

In recognition of the week, NDEQ is providing three articles below that focus on air quality topics, including “Wildfires and Smoke”, “Air Quality Index and Sensors”, and “Air Quality and Your Community”.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has received questions concerning debris management and other issues caused by the mid-March flooding. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers.

Can I burn carcasses that are on my property?
Yes, with proper permits obtained by NDEQ and the local fire department.

Do I have to pump my septic tank after the flood?
No, you do not have to pump. You should check to make sure it has not filled with mud or sediment from the flood.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and its partners have begun weekly sampling of public lakes across Nebraska.

This sampling will test for harmful algal blooms (HABs), also known as toxic blue-green algae, and E. coli bacteria at 51 public recreational lakes across the state. The testing takes place annually from May through September. In coordination with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the state will issue Health Alerts for HABs when test results indicate the toxin microcystin are at levels above 20 parts per billion.

Once waters receded following the March 2019 floods, many Nebraskans found sand and sediment deposited on their fields and properties. Landowners can consider a number of potential options for sand removal, according to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Can I push the sand back into the river?

Updated information: June 24, 2019 - The June 25 public hearing has been cancelled because there was no hearing request received during the 3-day notification and comment period.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Jim Macy commended a new agreement between U.S. EPA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to speed the availability of funding used to restore vital water infrastructure in times of disaster.

NDEQ’s Nebraska Diesel Emission Mitigation Program has announced the opening of the 2019 School Bus Rebate Program, which will use funds from Nebraska’s portion of Volkswagen State Trust to provide rebates to replace diesel school buses. Schools across the state are being notified that applications are now being accepted and must be received by Aug. 2, 2019, to be considered for selection. NDEQ anticipates awarding 32 school bus rebates during this second year of the program.

Grant applications for the 2020 Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive, Scrap Tire, and Litter Reduction and Recycling programs can be submitted between July 3 and Aug. 14, 2019 (4 p.m. Central Daylight Time). Grant applications for the 2020 grant term dealing with the reuse or recycling of materials from flood-related cleanup work will be given priority consideration.

LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts, along with Director Jim Macy, head of the newly created Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, celebrated the merger of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Energy Office.

Following the passage of LB 302, the two agencies are merging into the new Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) effective July 1, 2019.

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Director Jim Macy announced today that the state is awarding nearly $968,000 to support 63 tire recycling and cleanup projects across the state. The department received over $1.4 million in eligible requests.

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