The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (DWEE), in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has grant funds available for public child care facilities, preschools and elementary schools across the state to sample for lead in their drinking water. Sampling will begin Sept. 1 and end in April 2021.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Director Jim Macy announced Aug. 28 that the state is awarding approximately $2 million in rebates to schools across Nebraska to aid in the replacement of older diesel school buses.

The funded projects include 45 public school districts and one bus contractor serving a public school district. Each project will replace one older diesel bus with a new bus with much lower emissions. A list of grant recipients is below.

The artwork of 12 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2021 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” environmental calendar. The statewide contest is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (DWEE) and focuses on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2024 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” environmental calendar. The statewide contest is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (DWEE) and focuses on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Director Jim Macy announced Feb. 5 the award of $6,686,369 in grants to support 144 projects across the state. These grants will help fund litter and waste reduction projects, recycling programs, and pay costs for scrap tire cleanups and collections for household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and pharmaceuticals.

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (DWEE) confirmed that AltEn, LLC near Mead, Nebraska, completed its shut down at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.

While the facility has halted its ethanol production, it is running a steam boiler to prevent its system from freezing and causing uncontrolled discharges. Nearby residents may see a heat plume from the facility’s stack as this boiler is running.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (DWEE) responded to a discharge at the AltEn ethanol facility near Mead on Friday, Feb. 12.

DWEE staff were on site Friday and throughout the weekend to monitor and assess the discharge. The agency observed spill material in culverts up to four and a half miles southeast of the initial spill site. As of Feb. 16, the discharge is not migrating further and has not reached the Platte River. AltEn has constructed a dam south of the Highway 66 and Road 7 junction to prevent further migration.

Mead area residents will see machinery and mitigation work starting today, Feb. 18, regarding a discharge at the AltEn ethanol facility.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has received AltEn’s response to a letter of non-compliance, which includes the facility’s cleanup plans for the Feb. 12 discharge.

DWEE Director Jim Macy said it has been a constructive week for the agency in investigating and responding to the discharge.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Director Jim Macy issued an Emergency Order and Complaint requiring immediate action on the discharge that took place Feb. 12 at the AltEn ethanol facility in Mead.

Macy issued the order and complaint on Saturday, Feb. 20. It follows a Feb. 17 letter of non-compliance, in which the agency instructed AltEn to take mitigation and cleanup efforts on the discharge.

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