LINCOLN – Friday’s legislative session saw the introduction of a bill that gives the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy greater authority to order environmental cleanups.
Legislative Bill 1102 was introduced by State Sen. Bruce Bostelman, Brainard. It gives the department director the authority to issue cease-and desist letters for companies that pose a risk to people or the environment.
It also allows the department, which was also approved Friday by lawmakers, to initiate cleanups using a $300,000.00 cash reserve and to recover costs from any companies or individuals that are responsible for the contamination.
The interim study that was conducted last year by the state environmental department to respond to AltEn, an AltEn ethanol plant located near Mead that has been identified in the surrounding area as the source of contamination, led to the creation of the bill.
Bostelman stated that this bill was forward-looking and would stop polluters from the future.
It advanced to the second round on a 40-0 vote.
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Two senators who voted for the bill said they were unsure if LB 112 was enough to give the Department of Environment and Energy authority to stop bad actors before any serious damage is done.
Senator John Cavanaugh, Omaha, did not vote to move the bill from the Natural Resources Committee. He said that the bill was not as powerful as he would like.
Cavanaugh stated, “This is a complicated problem.” “We are trying make it strong, but not too cumbersome that we are forcing agencies to take action when it is not necessary.”
Bellevue Senator Carol Blood, who has introduced several bills to address the AltEn crisis, stated that she hopes lawmakers can strengthen the bill before it is up for debate again.
Blood stated, “I want to know when they’re going to give some things some teeth.” “NDEE already does what we intend to do… we would love to see it go further.”
Bostelman claimed that the bill was modeled after environmental cleanup laws from Kansas and Missouri. He said that the bill would give the Department of Environment and Energy greater tools to respond to environmental issues.
Our top Omaha staff photos & videos for March 2022
Gretna heard Brad Feeken, Millard North vs. Gretna boys’ basketball NSAA state semifinalist in Lincoln on Thursday. Millard North won this game 58-43.
Bellevue West’s Josiah Dotzler (22) is caught between Omaha Creighton Prep’s Casey OMalley (10) and Joshua Townley Thomas (21) in the Bellevue West vs. Omaha Creighton Prep boys’ basketball NSAA state semifinal in Lincoln on Thursday.
Britt Prince, a sophomore who is the state’s leading scorer in girls basketball, plays in her home gym at Elkhorn North High School. She did this on Thursday, March 03rd 2022.
Ital Lopuyo (22) of Omaha Central blocks a shot by Alexa Gobel (21) from Lincoln Southwest in the Omaha Central vs. Lincoln Southwest girls’ basketball NSAA state quarterfinal match in Lincoln on Monday.
Sophie Wilson and Coco Wilson walk past “David the Head of Goliath” Wednesday with their daughter Coco.
Omaha firefighters battled a brushfire on Wednesday south of eastbound Interstate 80. Traffic was also restricted during that time.
Sebastian Moore, 11, rides his bike around a partially covered pond at Benson Park, Omaha, on Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon’s highs were in the mid 70s.
Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton celebrates after scoring the second half against UConn at CHI Health Center Omaha, Wednesday.
Mya Skoff, Bellevue East’s assistant coach, holds her face while Jayla Wilson, a junior from Bellevue East High School, shoots a free throw against Millard North in the fourth quarter of their A-7 district final on Tuesday.
Bellevue East’s players celebrate their A-7 District final win against Millard North at Bellevue East High School, Bellevue, Tuesday.
Ryan Kalkbrenner from Creighton (left), battles Adama Sanogo, UConn, for a rebound in their game at CHI Health Center Omaha on Wednesday.
Ryan Kalkbrenner from Creighton dunks during Wednesday’s game against UConn at CHI Health Center Omaha.
