Photos: Mead ethanol plant
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
The Department of Environment and Energy ordered AltEn Ethanol near Mead to shut down in early February, dispose of millions of gallons of contaminated wastewater on the site and repair lagoons in violation of state regulations.
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
Unlike other ethanol plants, AltEn used treated seed instead of harvested grain for its fuel production. The byproduct from that process and wastewater near the plant have been found to carry levels of pesticides and fungicides above limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
AltEn Ethanol has been the subject of dozens of complaints since it reopened near Mead in 2015 related to an odor coming from the byproduct of its ethanol process, seen here at the beginning of the month. The byproduct has been found to carry levels of pesticides and fungicides above limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
AltEn ethanol plant is seen in this photo, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021.
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
AltEn shut down its operations on Feb. 8 after an order by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. The state found three lagoons on the site were contaminated, badly damaged and holding more wastewater than permitted.
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
AltEn is unique among ethanol plants in that it uses seeds pre-treated with pesticides to produce ethanol instead of harvested grain. It ceased operation on Feb. 8 after a state order.
Mead, 2.4
MEAD, NEB. - 02/04/2021 - A view of Mead, including the grain elevators with Frontier Cooperative, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
AltEn Ethanol, 2.4
AltEn Ethanol has been the subject of dozens of complaints since it reopened near Mead in 2015 related to an odor coming from the byproduct of its ethanol process. The byproduct has been found to carry levels of pesticides and fungicides above limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
A pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
A notification of environmental concern inspection report from Feb. 12, 2021, noted "flow, dark water and odor," in water pictured on University of Nebraska-Lincoln property. A pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy,
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
University of Nebraska-Lincoln personnel using a backhoe to place bales and plastic to dam the culvert on UNL property near Mead after a pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
A notification of environmental concern inspection report from Feb. 12 noted "flow, dark water and odor," in water pictured on UNL property after a pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at AltEn Ethanol near Mead, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
Water pools west of the leaking digester at Mead AltEn Ethanol on Feb. 12 after a pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
A depth finder measures flow from a leak on Feb. 12 after a pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at AltEn Ethanol near Mead late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
Mead AltEn Ethanol employees use trash pumps to transport water into an emergency lagoon on Feb. 12. A pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the plant late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
Mead AltEn Ethanol employees work to install a trash pump to transport water into an emergency lagoon on Feb. 12. A pipe burst on a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the plant late last week, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Mead AltEn Ethanol plant leak
Water exits the damaged area (blue arrow) of a 4 million-gallon digester tank at AltEn Ethanol near Mead on Feb. 12, releasing waste material into the waterways and culverts more than 4 miles from the plant, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
AltEn Ethanol cleanup
A crew works to remove waste material from a culvert southeast of AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday in Saunders County.
Saunders County Board of Supervisors
Saunders County Supervisors David Lutton (from left), Doris Karloff and Craig Breunig listen to Saunders County Attorney Joe Dobesh (not seen) speak about communications with state officials about AltEn Ethanol in February in Wahoo.
AltEn Ethanol cleanup
An earthen dam blocks the flow of waste material in a waterway southeast of AltEn Ethanol last week in Saunders County.
Saunders County Board of Supervisors
Saunders County Attorney Joe Dobesh talks about his communication with state officials about AltEn Ethanol at a Saunders County Board of Supervisors meeting in late February in Wahoo.
AltEn Ethanol cleanup
A crew works to remove waste material from a culvert southeast of AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday in Saunders County.
Saunders County Board of Supervisors
The Saunders County Board of Supervisors listens to Saunders County Attorney Joe Dobesh (not pictured) speak about communications with state officials about AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday during the board's meeting in Wahoo.
AltEn Ethanol cleanup
A crew works to remove waste material from a culvert southeast of AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday in Saunders County.
Saunders County Board of Supervisors
Saunders County Supervisors David Lutton, Doris Karloff and Craig Breunig listen to Saunders County Attorney Joe Dobesh speaks about communications with state officials about AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday during the board's meeting in Wahoo.
AltEn aerial
The AltEn plant near Mead, which the state shut down earlier this year, is shown on Aug. 25. Along with the toxic solids spread on land surrounding the site, the environmental cleanup is also focused on removing pesticides from wastewater on the site.
Wet cake in field
This 2021 Google Maps image shows a location north of Mead where AltEn's distiller's grains were stockpiled in a cornfield.
Mead Tour, 7.8
Curtis Pearson of Mead talks Thursday during a meeting at Mead Covenant Church about the troubled AltEn ethanol plant near the town.
Mead Tour, 7.8
Stan Keiser talks Thursday during a meeting at Mead Covenant Church about the troubled AltEn ethanol plant near the town.
The cleanup plan for AltEn sheds insight into the failings of the ethanol plant, which turned hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticide-treated seeds into biofuel, creating contaminated byproducts in the process.
The University of Nebraska and Creighton University have launched a massive study to monitor the former biofuel plant's effects on the environment, wildlife and humans over the next decade, a project that could cost $10 million.
The people who live in Mead noticed something was changing in their environment. But it would take time and persistence to pinpoint what was wiping out bee colonies, sickening animals and potentially causing health issues for residents.
A Topeka landowner who initially agreed to buy biochar from AltEn told the Journal Star he wasn’t aware of the former ethanol plant’s operations and history of running afoul of state environmental regulations until earlier this month.
Both the examination of what led to the environmental crisis as well as a look to the future were discussed Monday at a “Stop the AltEn Cover-up” rally in the Rotunda at the state Capitol.
The former suppliers to AltEn said the facility broke state and federal laws and violated the terms of the agreements they signed with the Kansas-based biofuel company.
A proposal from Sen. Carol Blood would create a special legislative committee charged with examining AltEn’s operations, as well as the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s attempts to regulate the plant.
The Appropriations Committee did not include any level of funding to keep a study of the environmental and health impacts stemming from AltEn in the budget packages it sent to the floor for debate.
Despite questions about whether it was germane, Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue found support for an amendment providing $1 million to the University of Nebraska to continue research.
A survey designed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center to measure the perceived health risks related to AltEn has been put online to help reach a greater number of people living in Saunders County.
AltEn is seeking a renewal of its permit to discharge wastewater, but those who spoke at a public hearing in Mead on Wednesday were skeptical the company was able to comply with the plan it submitted to the state.
The owner of a warehouse near the Lincoln Airport is suing AltEn for failing to make payments on a $10,893.75 monthly lease and $1,556.25 for insurance, taxes and utilities.
The sample taken from Jody Weible's dining room showed the presence of 11 of the 14 pesticides that have also been found in high concentrations at AltEn, the now-closed ethanol plant near Mead.
The permit renewal comes on the day AltEn’s 2017 permit was set to expire and more than a year after the ethanol plant was ordered to shut down for violating several state environmental regulations.
While U.S. Geological Survey has been involved in research at AltEn before the plant closed, the agency has taken a more proactive role beginning earlier this year.
Efforts to dispose of wastewater at AltEn are continuing, but the question of how to get rid of 99,000 tons of solid waste at the former ethanol plant remains open.
Scientists updated residents on their findings of a wide-ranging and long-term study into AltEn’s impacts on the environment and human health at a town hall Monday in Mead.
U.S. District Court Judge Brian Buescher ordered AltEn to stop transferring, selling, "or otherwise concealing any and all cash funds, assets, or any real or personal property," with some exceptions.
The biofuel plant that turned pesticide-treated seeds into ethanol allegedly failed to pay a Lincoln warehouse hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent and utilities.
