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.
July 25, 2022
Northwest lagoon Groundwater Monitoring Update
FROM AltEn Facility Response Group
Monitoring Analysis
Ever since AltEn abandoned its facility in Mead in 2021, the AltEn Facility Response Group (FRG) has been voluntarily working under the direction of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) to stabilize the site.
The FRG’s top priorities continue to be stabilizing the AltEn site and developing a remedial action plan under the guidance of NDEE to help ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
NDEE and the FRG have been monitoring groundwater and inspecting lagoons from the outset. Recently, we confirmed chemicals found in the lagoons were also found at elevated levels in groundwater adjacent to the Northwest lagoon downgradient of the Village of Mead’s water supply.
These results come from only sampling points at the Northwest lagoon. All other surrounding monitoring wells on the AltEn site continue to produce results well within EPA’s standards, and human health risk-based levels.
We are continuing to investigate, with NDEE, the extent of the chemicals under the south berm of the Northwest lagoon.
Actions the FRG is Taking
- Already treated 27 million gallons of water to NDEE-approved levels for use as a beneficial nutrient source on nearby farms.
- Continuing water treatment according to NDEE-issued permits.
- Reducing the water in all the AltEn lagoons and will further expedite drawing down the Northwest lagoon in a safe and effective manner.
- Along with NDEE, performing further analysis to better understand these recent results.
What the Community Wants to Know
No. Groundwater monitoring well sample data across the AltEn site (except samples taken directly south of the Northwest lagoon) indicates water quality is well within EPA and human health risk-based standards. NDEE testing has shown no evidence of impacts to local drinking water. The AltEn site is downgradient of the Village of Mead’s water supply, meaning the onsite concentrations do not pose a risk to Mead drinking water, according to the NDEE. The FRG, in coordination with the NDEE, is continuing to monitor on-site wells to evaluate any impact to the groundwater.
The FRG and the NDEE are working to further analyze groundwater monitoring results that revealed higher than expected concentrations of chemicals in groundwater from April of 2022. These results were shared publicly at that time on NDEE’s website. To appropriately analyze the results, the FRG installed an additional permanent monitoring well and FRG and the NDEE both took additional samples and sent them to a qualified lab for analysis. These are the results we are sharing now.
