December Community Meeting: 2025 Achievements and Look Ahead to 2026 

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 Water, Energy, and Environment (NDWEE) 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 NDWEE 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.

DECEMBER 9, 2025

Project Achievements and Lagoon Solids RAP Summary

The presentation below was shared with area residents at an open community meeting on Dec. 9. The posters were used to summarize site activities and plans for the year ahead. 

Community Update - DECEMBER 9, 2025
2025 Project Achievements Wet cake removal completed in August >165,000 tons of solidified wet cake were safely transported to a landfill since the Fall of 2023 – more than 7,000 truckloads Contact stormwater treatment and land application continued >12 million gallons of contact stormwater treated >13 millions gallons of treated lagoon water and contact stormwater were land applied to nearby farmland, which brings the total to >110 million gallons Demolition of the facility's grain bin completed in November Six new groundwater monitoring wells installed and included in routine testing – groundwater continues to be safe based on the most recent results Lagoon Solids Remedial Action Plan submitted to NDWEE Stormwater Management Plan approved by NDWEE in November
October 2021 ~14 acres 10-15 feet high ~115,000 tons of raw wet cake October 2025 Grading and seeding to be completed in Spring 2026
Grain Bin Demolition
Progress Will Continue in 2026 Remaining grading and seeding of the former wet cake pile area will be completed in Spring 2026 Lagoon Solids RAP Expected NDWEE approval in early 2026 following the public comment period and hearing Remedial design of the approved remedial action to commence soon thereafter Groundwater will continue to be tested to confirm public safety Soil may be tested if determined to be necessary in cooperation with NDWEE EcoVap Evaporation Tower will be installed More efficiently manage approximately 5 million gallons of contact stormwater Contact stormwater not evaporated will continue to be treated FRG will deliver RAPs for on-site soil (August) and groundwater (December)
Lagoon Solids RAP Summary – Safe, Secure, and Sensible Solidify the lagoon solids with combination of soil and Portland cement Consolidate solidified solids from the Northwest Lagoon into the Northeast and/or Southeast Lagoons Cover the solidified solids with soil from the surrounding berms Install a cap with a synthetic component and passive gas vents Grade final surface to facilitate stormwater flow off the remedial unit Import soil as necessary to achieve the final grade Perform maintenance so the remedial unit continues to be protective Perform groundwater monitoring to confirm the remedial unit remains protective FRG is committed to performing long-term maintenance and monitoring
Thank you page

2025 Achievements

Progress will continue in 2026