The below information has been provided in an effort to help keep the community informed on a more frequent basis about progress at the AltEn site.
Ever since AltEn ceased operations at its facility in Mead in 2021, the AltEn Facility Response Group (FRG) has been voluntarily working under the guidance of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) to stabilize the AltEn site and develop a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the site. The FRG’s top priorities have been and continue to be to help ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment. To-date, there has been no evidence of impacts to local drinking water.
The FRG is working diligently with the NDEE to identify the most effective and safest methods to address the current environmental conditions on the AltEn site. The remedial action plans (RAP) will recommend remediation for components remaining on-site, including wastewater, sludge, and wet cake.
AUGUST 11, 2022
An Update
Ever since AltEn ceased operations at its facility in Mead in 2021, the AltEn Facility Response Group (FRG) has been voluntarily working under the guidance of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) to stabilize the AltEn site and develop a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the site. The FRG’s top priorities have been and continue to be to help ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
The FRG is working diligently with the NDEE to identify the most effective and safest methods and to identify the most appropriate steps to address the current environmental conditions on the AltEn site. The RAP will recommend remediation for components remaining on-site, including wastewater, sludge, and wet cake. The FRG has been working on a timeline to submit the RAP with the NDEE. Currently, the FRG is gathering additional data about the site conditions and materials left on site by AltEn for the RAP recommendations. In addition, the FRG has also established a plan to dispose of seed remaining on-site that is outside the purview of the RAP, but that the FRG is undertaking as a part of site stabilization.
Due to the complex nature and quantities of the materials on-site, once a plan is agreed upon and submitted, the FRG will continue to gather feedback from the public, stakeholders, and the NDEE.
A description of the proven solution that will be proposed for the remaining wastewater on-site is provided below. Planned repairs that will be performed on the temporary Posi-shell covering the wet cake are also discussed. A summary of the options under evaluation for the wet cake, sludge, and associated soil will be shared in the future. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NDEE to ensure the FRG meets its commitments in a safe and protective manner.
Solutions for Wastewater
Currently, more than 100 million gallons of wastewater remain in the lagoons at the AltEn site. All of this water needs to be treated in order to continue to be safely applied to nearby farms as a nutrient-rich benefit for crop health. The FRG will propose in the RAP the continuation of treating lagoon water and using it for beneficial land application on nearby farms, consistent with the terms of the permit issued earlier this year by NDEE. The FRG has treated more than 30 million gallons of water; of which nine million gallons of that total has already been put to beneficial use on nearby farms. If the process continues at this pace, the treatment and land application will likely take two years to complete.
Posi-Shell Repairs
Earlier this year, the FRG installed a wet cake pile drainage and temporary cover system using Posi-Shell, as approved by the NDEE, which will be removed when wet cake remedial actions begin. The purpose of the Posi-Shell covering is for waste containment, odor control, and to prevent contact between the wet cake and any precipitation, preventing the generation of additional contaminated stormwater. Settling of the underlying wet cake has caused the PosiShell cover to develop cracks. There is no indication that these cracks have resulted in any release of contact stormwater, and the FRG has already engaged a vendor to make the necessary repairs. The vendor is mobilizing equipment and materials to the site and will commence repairs once they are able to obtain required materials (including 90 tons of Portland Cement delayed due to supply chain issues) to begin the project. The FRG will continue routine inspections and monitoring of the Posi-Shell as the repairs and development of the RAP continue.
