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Opinion Articles about About AltEn
Most Recent:
What took so long? — by David Corbin
letter to the editor in response to editorial - see link below)
Jul 18, 2024
OMAHA — I was pleased to see your editorial about the crisis at the property owned by the AltEn ethanol plant.
The cleanup of the wetcake and lagoons contaminated with pesticides and fungicides from AltEn’s use of treated seeds to make ethanol has created a huge cleanup problem.
The AltEn Facility Response Group that is funded by companies that provided the treated seeds in the first place are currently engaged in the cleanup under the supervision of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
That this environmental crisis was able to ever happen in the first place and to exist as long as it has begs the question of what took so long? (for background information visit: https://www.sierraclub.org/nebraska/alten-crisis).
As the cleanup process continues, it is not too early to make plans for the property once it is cleaned up.
I suggest a community solar project since the property is unsuitable for farming or housing. Solar energy would help the community save money on their energy bills.
The Mead community deserves to reap some rewards for the years of pollution and bad odors that they endured.The seed companies should help to fund the solar project and seek federal dollars designated for brownfield development. (https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/are-you-considering-renewable-energy-or-energy-efficient-approaches-your-brownfields)
David E. Corbin, PhD, Energy Committee Chair, Nebraska Sierra Club
Environmental problems at unusual type of Nebraska ethanol plant need to be resolved efficiently, Norfolk Daily News, July 8, 2024
Under the EPA’s watch, unchecked insecticides are causing another ‘Silent Spring’ by Clay Bolt, opinion contributor, The Hill, May 20, 2023
*****
First the good news: The bees are back!, Unspun, by Carey Gillam, February 1, 2023
Wahoo Newspaper, December 29, 2023
Perivallon Group Statement on AltEnWe’ll get right to the point.
The AltEn disaster in Mead continues to unfold, not in a positive way. Dec. 13 comments by EPA’s Region 7 Director of Enforcement and Compliance reflect grave concerns about the manner in which NDEE is managing remediation of the site. EPA’s acknowledgement that one lagoon holding chemically contaminated wastewater has leaked its contents into groundwater is a stunning admission of failure and begs the question: what is the plan for controlling spread of the plume and cleaning up the aquifer?
EPA’s concerns about the lack of specificity in the Remedial Action Plan are warranted. These include the fact that scientific assessments (and established risk benchmarks) are conducted on individual compounds and do not evaluate the human health and environmental risks related to chronic exposure to multiple compounds at varying concentrations or the interactions of metabolites. At least 13 pesticides are present in AltEn’s treated water that has been applied to farms around Saunders County this year – literally a chemical soup of neurotoxins linked to long-term brain and reproductive diseases as well as birth defects. Pesticide residues have been found in urine and blood samples provided by residents of the area. The same residues have been detected in several residences. Also at risk are military personnel assigned to the National Guard installation adjacent to the plant. Have the Mead schools been tested for residues? Children are particularly vulnerable to long-term effects of pesticide exposure, diseases that may not manifest until puberty or beyond.
Given these unknowns, a conservative and proactive approach to the cleanup is essential. The seed companies are pushing back on NDEE because its recommendations are “too costly.” Based on previous experience, it is likely NDEE will abandon best practice standards rather than require the seed companies to comply. We believe it is time for the AltEn site to be listed for SuperFund designation, which would unlock federal CERCLA funds to support the remediation as well as necessary enforcement mechanisms. There is no time to waste.
Perivallon Group,
Al Davis (Lincoln), Janece Mollhoff (Ashland), Leesa Zalesky (Wahoo), David Corbin (Omaha),
Ken Winston (Lincoln), Tom Genung (Hastings), John Schalles (Omaha)
Local View: 'Overreach and oversight,' by David E. Corbin. Lincoln Journal Star, March 8, 2021
Midlands Voices: 'Nebraska's Flint moment has arrived; the state must provide solutions,' by Anne M. Hubbard, Omaha World Herald, March 13, 2021
Public Pulse, 'Regulatory Failure,' by George Cunningham, Omaha World Herald, March 16, 2021
Letter, 'Rural areas pay price for problems,' Lincoln Journal Star, March 20, 2021
Midlands Voices: 'My experience raises concerns about Nebraska environmental regulation' by Larry Bradley, Omaha World-Herald, March 21, 2021
Public Pulse, 'A needed resignation,' by Sandy Scofield, Omaha World Herald, March 26, 2021
Public Pulse, 'Mead is abused,' by Bob Copperstone, Omaha World Herald, April 4, 2021
Letter, 'So many questions for governor,' by Gregory Wees, Lincoln Journal Star, May 1, 2021
Midlands Voices: Omaha World Herald, 'AltEn is just one example of ill-considered biofuel subsidies,' by Sheila Karpf, May 7, 2021
Letter, 'Biofuel Facts,' by Dale Coates, May 9, 2021.
Midlands Voices: Omaha World Herald, 'Investigation of Mead plant definitely warranted,' by David E. Corbin, May 18, 2021
Lincoln Journal Star editorial: 'Seed company AltEn cleanup a positive, but only first, step,' June 18, 2021.
Midlands Voices: Omaha World Herald, 'Money, politics and Nebraska environmental regulation,' by John Janovy, Jr., July 6. 2021.
Seeing Red, 'A serial environmental violator is in charge of Cleaning up in Mead,' by Amanda Gailey, August 10, 2021
Lincoln Journal Star, November 7, 2021.
Lincoln Journal Star, Dec.1, 2021
*****
Lincoln Journal Star, January 20, 2022
'Mead ethanol plant's practices result in legislative bill on lawsuits: it's worthy of support,' Norfolk Daily News, February 9, 2022
'Lawmakers should pass bill to give state more authority to stop polluters,' Lincoln Journal Star, February 10, 2022
'Bill helps AltEn get answers, Lincoln Journal Star, by Leesa Zalensky, March 5, 2022
Omaha World-Herald, February 13, 2022 (below)
'Rotunda rules,' Omaha World-Herald, by David Corbin, February 23, 2022
Lincoln Journal Star Editorial, April 1, 2022 (below)
'A call for coming together: Pesticide concerns need to be addressed,' The New Lede, by Judy Wu-Smart, April 26, 2022
