Information and Updates for AltEn near Mead, Nebraska
Facility ID: 84069
Date last revised: November 29, 2023
This page is designed to keep the Mead community, Saunders County residents and interested citizens informed about significant activities related to the cleanup and mitigation actions at the AltEn ethanol facility.
Note: Older updates can be found below the Documents section.
AFRG completes solids disposal pilot study - November 29, 2023
The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) completed the second phase of its solids disposal pilot study on Saturday, Nov. 18.
The AFRG sent the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) weekly progress summaries during the pilot study. In total, the AFRG hauled more than 10,200 tons of wetcake and other materials to a permitted off-site landfill over the course of eight weeks. All summaries can be viewed on the agency’s public records portal in files titled “Progress Report.” The final summary was filed Nov. 20, 2023.
The purpose of this pilot study was to obtain data on the feasibility of taking the wetcake from the AltEn facility to a permitted landfill. The AFRG will use this information to develop its solids remedial action plan.
AFRG notifies NDEE of wetcake excavation - November 9, 2023
The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) has notified the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) that it is excavating into the site’s consolidated wetcake pile. This excavation is taking place so the AFRG can sample soil that is currently under the wetcake.
The excavation work began around Nov. 4. A memo from the AFRG states that work will continue through Nov. 18, 2023, with the sampling taking place in late November 2023. This memo can be found on NDEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Technical Review,” filed Nov. 7, 2023.
The memo states corridors will be excavated through the wetcake starting at the southeast corner of the consolidated pile. One corridor will progress north for 362 feet, and the second will progress northwest for 509 feet. Some of the wetcake will be processed for use in the AFRG’s solids disposal pilot project. The rest will be placed on top of the current wetcake pile and covered with posi-shell at the end of each work week.
To read more about the AFRG’s wetcake subsoil characterization work plan, see the Aug. 21, 2023, update below. More information on the AFRG’s solids disposal pilot study, see the Sept. 25, 2023, update below.
NDEE approves additional sites for fall 2023 land application - October 26, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has approved the second of two best management practices (BMP) plans for the fall 2023 land application of treated wastewater from the AltEn facility.
The BMP can be viewed on NDEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Oct. 14, 2023. Additional information can be found in a document titled “Additional Land Application Sites,” filed Oct. 6, 2023.
NDEE approved a previous BMP earlier this month. Information on this first BMP can be viewed in the Oct. 17, 2023, update.
This additional BMP authorizes the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) to begin applying water from the east treated wastewater lagoon to 9 sites.
NDEE has directed the AFRG to apply the wastewater according to the land’s nutrient budget, at rates that follow the NDEE-approved pesticide thresholds, and follow best management practices.
When approving sites, NDEE also considered the following requirements:· Setbacks from waters of the state;
· Slope of the land;
· Setbacks from dwellings;
· Setbacks from potable water supply wells, including community water supplies; and
· Depth to groundwater.
NDEE’s land application approval letter can be found in the public records portal in a document titled, “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed on Oct. 24, 2023.
NDEE receives plan to remove seed corn - October 26, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) received a plan from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) to remove remaining seed corn from the AltEn site.
The plan can be viewed in the agency’s public records portal in a document titled “Removal Action Work Plan,” filed Oct. 18, 2023.
In its memo, the AFRG states it plans to remove approximately 2,800 tons of seed corn stored in a grain bin at the AltEn facility. This seed will be transported to a licensed and permitted waste-to-energy facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The AFRG states it plans to secure truck loads using the same protocols used for the solid waste pilot study before the trucks leave the facility. A previous update on the pilot study can be viewed in a Sept. 25, 2023, update.
Work to remove the remaining seed corn is expected to occur through the remainder of 2023.
NDEE approves sites for fall 2023 land application - October 17, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has approved a best management practices (BMP) plan for the fall 2023 land application of treated wastewater from the AltEn facility.
The BMP can be viewed on NDEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Oct. 5, 2023. Additional information can be found in a document titled, “Additional Land Application Sites,” filed Oct. 6, 2023.
The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) is authorized to begin applying water from the west treated wastewater lagoon on 13 approved sites.
NDEE has directed the AFRG to apply the wastewater according to the land’s nutrient budget, at rates that follow the NDEE-approved pesticide thresholds, and follow best management practices.
NDEE is reviewing an additional BMP for applying treated wastewater from the east treated wastewater lagoon.
When approving sites, NDEE also considered the following requirements:· Setbacks from waters of the state;
· Slope of the land;
· Setbacks from dwellings;
· Setbacks from potable water supply wells, including community water supplies; and
· Depth to groundwater.
NDEE’s land application approval letter can be found in the public records portal in a document titled “Land Application Approval,” filed Oct. 6, 2023.
The AFRG’s initial proposal for fall land application, comments from NDEE, and the AFRG’s amended proposal can be viewed on the public records portal:· Initial application - “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Sept. 6, 2023;
· Signed landowner agreements - “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Sept. 26, 2023;
· NDEE comments - “Best Management Practices (BMP,” filed Sept. 28, 2023;
· Revised BMP - “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Oct. 3, 2023; and (east pond)
· Revised BMP - “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed Oct. 5, 2023.
Additional information on the AFRG’s Best Management Practices plan can be found in a Sept. 29, 2023, update.
NDEE receives plan for fall land application - September 29, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has received a best management practices (BMP) plan for applying treated wastewater from the AltEn facility onto nearby agricultural land in the fall of 2023.
AltEn has an NPDES permit that allows the land application of treated wastewater, and this permit requires a BMP plan before land application events occur to ensure the treated wastewater is applied in an appropriate manner.
The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) submitted the BMP plan for spring application on Sept. 6, 2023. It can be viewed on the agency’s public records portal in a document titled “Best Management Practices (BMP),” filed on Sept. 6, 2023.
The BMP plan, if approved, would allow application of approximately 7.9 million gallons of treated wastewater on 10 sites near the AltEn facility. These 10 sites total 1,089 acres.
The agency is currently reviewing the BMP plan.
NDEE approves amended land application approach - September 29, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has approved the revised “Proposed Land Application Approach for Management of Water from AltEn Site” document from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG).
The AFRG submitted its proposed revisions to the land application approach on Aug. 18, 2023, and NDEE approved the revisions on Sept. 14, 2023. Both the amended land application approach and NDEE’s approval can be found on the agency’s public records portal in the following documents:
- “Land Application,” filed Aug. 18, 2023
- “Land Application Approval,” filed Sept. 14, 2023.
NDEE had previously provided comments to the AFRG’s revised proposal. Correspondence between NDEE and the AFRG can be found in the public records portal:
- “Land Application,” filed Sept. 6, 2023.
- “Land Application,” filed Sept. 11, 2023.
A previous update on this topic can be found on NDEE’s “Information and Updates for AltEn near Mead, Nebraska” webpage in an Aug. 28, 2023, update.
Next phase of pilot study to begin - September 25, 2023
The AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) plans to begin the next phase of its solids disposal pilot study the week of Sept. 25, 2023. This includes stabilizing and hauling wetcake off site to obtain data on the feasibility of taking wetcake from the AltEn Facility to an off-site landfill.
The AFRG plans to begin wetcake stabilization on Monday, Sept. 25 or Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. The first truck load of wetcake would leave the site a day or two later.
During an inspection by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) on Sept. 19, 2023, NDEE staff noted a new road on site for trucks to be loaded with wetcake, which includes two truck wheel wash mats to avoid track-out. Bentonite will be added to stabilize the wetcake before loading it into trucks.
The inspection report can be viewed on NDEE’s public records portal in document titled “Site Visit,” filed Sept. 19, 2023.
Previous correspondence between NDEE and the AFRG indicate the AFRG also plans to implement site controls to secure loads, manage stormwater, reduce dust, and conduct odor and air monitoring. The AFRG has also stated it plans to halt work during the weekends and community events to reduce odors.
More information on the pilot study can be viewed on the public records portal in a document titled “Pilot Study,” filed April 21, 2023, and in previous updates on March 24, 2023; May 1, 2023; and May 22, 2023.
NDEE receives revised land application proposal - August 28, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has received a revised land application approach from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG).
The revised land application approach can be viewed on NDEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Land Application,” filed Aug. 18, 2023.
The proposed revisions:
- clarify the use of a drag hose is the AFRG’s preferred method of land application,
- clarify the field procedures used to ensure water is not ponding or running off the fields it is applied to,
- establish setback areas around known tile drainage, and
- remove the requirement to document and report producer-applied fungicide and insecticide in fields selected for land application
NDEE is reviewing the proposed revisions.
The land application approach document describes how the AFRG determines its rate of application for treated wastewater from the AltEn facility. The proposed amendments do not change the facility’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
NDEE receives wetcake subsoil characterization work plan — August 21, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has received a Wet Cake Subsoil Characterization Work Plan from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG).
The work plan can be viewed on NDEE’s public records portal in a document titled “Remedial Action Work Plan,” dated Aug. 11, 2023.
The AFRG plans to sample the soil underneath the wetcake pile to determine site-specific soil screening levels and to delineate the extent of pesticides from the wet cake to the underlying soil. NDEE is reviewing the work plan.
Documents
Past press releases
Older updates
AFRG begins seed disposal — August 16, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has received information from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) regarding the disposal of unused seed corn stored at the AltEn site.
In a memo to NDEE, the AFRG states it plans to dispose of nearly 6,675 tons of seed by trucking it to a waste-to-energy facility. This document can be viewed on the public records portal in a document titled “Disposal Site,” filed on July 25, 2023.
Work to remove the unused seed began around Aug. 1, 2023. The AFRG also listed precautions it is taking, such as watering down the seed to limit dust, covering the loaded seeds, and wheel-washing to prevent track-out of the facility. The AFRG estimates it will take 4-5 months to complete with an estimated average of 3-5 trucks per day.
NDEE approves Title 123 permit — July 12, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) approved a wastewater works construction permit for AltEn through Title 123 – Rules and Regulations for the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Works.
This Title 123 permit allows the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) to construct wastewater works at the AltEn Facility for the treatment of onsite wastewater.
AltEn was previously issued a Title 123 permit in September 2022. A new permit is needed because the AFRG hired a different contractor that is constructing a new wastewater treatment works to treat the existing wastewater. The treated wastewater will continue to be stored in the treated wastewater lagoons on site and will ultimately be applied to agricultural land.
The AFRG’s permit application and the issued permit can be found on NDEE’s public records portal in documents titled, “Construction,” filed June 25, 2023, and “Construction,” filed July 7, 2023, respectively.
AFRG detects methane in monitoring wells, takes precautions — July 11, 2023
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) received a memo from the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) that states the group found high levels of methane in groundwater monitoring well casings during its quarterly groundwater sampling effort.
The report can be viewed on NDEE’s public records portal in document titled, “Groundwater monitoring,” filed July 7, 2023. NDEE is reviewing this memo and the AFRG’s proposed actions.
The AFRG reports of the 11 wells sampled, eight had methane levels at or above the lower explosive limit (LEL). The LEL for methane in the air is 5% by volume. Of these eight wells, four were also above the upper explosive limit (UEL), which is 18%. Methane concentrations in the air outside the wells were below the LEL.
In response to these methane levels, the AFRG has taken a series of health and safety precautions to protect worker safety and prevent ignition of the methane, including:
- Capping and locking all monitoring wells, and tagging wells with methane concentrations above 4% of the methane LEL,
- Creating a 20-foot buffer around each of the tagged wells where vehicles cannot be parked, idled, stopped or started,
- Performing air monitoring in enclosed work spaces,
- Performing methane monitoring prior to opening a well,
- Directing all subcontractors to implement these controls and others they deem appropriate for the safety of their employees.
The AFRG states it also conducted response monitoring for the treated water pond system and buildings and enclosed spaces.
Moving forward, the AFRG states it will continue to monitor enclosed structures and make necessary modifications to prevent methane ignition, conduct air sampling during future well sampling events, and install well caps to prevent methane emissions. The AFRG also recommends conducting one extended venting/monitoring event to gather information to assess the benefits of installing vented well caps and to inform safety planning.
Archived Updates can be found HERE
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