AltEn Facility Remediation Response
Updates from the AltEn Facility Response Group (FRG) on remediation efforts at AltEn’s vacated ethanol production facility in Mead, Nebraska.
AltEn vacated its ethanol production facility in Mead in 2021.
Since that time, the AltEn Facility Response Group (FRG) has stabilized the AltEn site, treated over 49 million gallons of process water, 29.4 million gallons of which has been applied to local farms as a beneficial nutrient source. The FRG has also developed a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for water stored at the site and is developing a RAP for the onsite solids.
The FRG’s work is being conducted under Nebraska’s Voluntary Cleanup Program and is being supervised by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE). The FRG submitted its water RAP to NDEE in September 2022 and resubmitted a Revised RAP in October 2022 that addressed NDEE comments. On November 10, 2022, NDEE announced that it is proposing approval of the Water RAP and solicited written comments that are due to NDEE by December 13, 2022. NDEE is hosting a public information session and hearing on the RAP on December 14, 2022.
While the Water RAP is under review, the FRG committed to its implementation and is in the process of conducting investigative work on remediation of remaining site materials in order to submit the solids RAP. The FRG’s top priority is to ensure the continued safety of the surrounding community and environment. NDEE testing has consistently shown no evidence of impacts to local drinking water.
Steps the FRG and NDEE have taken to stabilize the site:
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Conducting regular inspections of the waste-water lagoons, including daily monitoring. There continues to be no evidence of impacts to local drinking water.
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Removed excess water from the lagoons to create safe conditions.
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Treated more than 49 million gallons of process water at the water treatment facility built at the AltEn site by the FRG, 29.4 million gallons of which has been applied as a nutrient source to nearby farms.
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Consolidated and installed a temporary cover for the wet cake.
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Winterized AltEn’s ethanol plant and piping.
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Managed the chemical inventory left behind by AltEn.
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Conducted extensive bench-scale and pilot-scale studies to obtain the design data necessary for final management of the remaining site water and wet cake.
The AltEn Facility Response Group’s top priority is to help ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
