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Public records reveal frustration as state sought to deal with pesticide dangers from ethanol plant

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Editor's Pick Topical Alert Featured

AltEn: A JOURNAL STAR SPECIAL REPORT

Public records reveal frustration as state sought to deal with pesticide dangers from ethanol plant

• Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star
• Nov 21, 2021
• Nov 21, 2021 Updated May 26, 2023
• 0

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.

Silver Lab Productions, For the Journal Star

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Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star

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.

Justin Wan

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When a coalition of seed companies first arrived to determine the scope of cleanup at the AltEn site they found an estimated 250,000 cubic yards of pesticide-laden wet cake — a volume of solid byproduct that would cover the area of a football field at a depth of 150 feet — stockpiled at three sites on AltEn's property.

Wet cake is seen piling up at AltEn in this photo taken on Monday, March 8, 2021. 

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

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Nothing grows on a site north of Mead, shown in a photo taken Aug. 25, where AltEn's distiller's grains, or wet cake, was stockpiled. 

Silver Lab Productions for Lincoln Journal Star

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Wet cake sits piled outside the AltEn plant in February, when it was shut down by state regulators who ran into confusion and legal obstacles when it tried to address complaints from the people of Mead about the now-closed ethanol plant.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

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When the Nebraska Department of Agriculture first reached out to the USDA, which regulates what language must appear on seed bag label, it was told enforcing what the label said was the responsibility of the EPA, whose authority is limited when it comes to products treated with pesticides or fungicides.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Mead official says village's water supply is safe to drink

Researchers seeking clues in nature to track Mead ethanol plant's trauma

Companies submit plan to clean up AltEn waste, including enough wet cake to cover football field 150 feet deep

Photos: Mead ethanol plant

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant. COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mead AltEn Ethanol plant

A burst pipe late last week in a 4 million-gallon digester tank at the AltEn Ethanol plant near Mead sent liquid manure and thin stillage, a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process, into waterways and culverts up to 4 miles from the plant.

COURTESY PHOTO

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

AltEn Ethanol, 2.4

AltEn ethanol plant is seen in this photo, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. 

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

AltEn Ethanol

Emptied treated seed bags are stacked at the AltEn company in this photo taken in April 2019 during a Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy inspection. The ethanol plant near Mead used the seed to produce ethanol and the byproduct from the process to create soil conditioner sold to area farmers.

COURTESY PHOTO

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

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. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo

AltEn Ethanol cleanup

An earthen dam blocks the flow of waste material in a waterway southeast of AltEn Ethanol last week in Saunders County. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

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. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo

AltEn Ethanol cleanup

A crew works to remove waste material from a culvert southeast of AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday in Saunders County.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journhttps://leemun-tcmsv2.leeent.net/lincoln.local/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/09/9092f903-80e4-5f8e-a0c9-828b1a4e95e5/60355b41dcca3.image.jpgal Star

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. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

AltEn Ethanol cleanup

A crew works to remove waste material from a culvert southeast of AltEn Ethanol on Tuesday in Saunders County.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

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. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

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.

Silver Lab Productions, For the Journal Star

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.

Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star

Stan and Evelyn Keiser, 6.30

Evelyn and Stan Keiser had hoped to build a cabin on their property near a pond created by Stan Keiser's grandfather. The pond, once teeming with wildlife, is now a dead zone after pesticide-contaminated wastewater from the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead flowed downstream. The Keisers were also recently notified that their private well, which provides their drinking water, contains contaminants.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

Keiser pond

Pesticide contaminated water that has run off from the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead has been responsible for rendering Stan and Evelyn Keiser's farm pond a dead zone.

Courtesy photo

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.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Mead Tour, 7.8

Stan Keiser talks Thursday during a meeting at Mead Covenant Church about the troubled AltEn ethanol plant near the town.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS

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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.

• Silver Lab Productions, For the Journal Star

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When a coalition of seed companies first arrived to determine the scope of cleanup at the AltEn site they found an estimated 250,000 cubic yards of pesticide-laden wet cake — a volume of solid byproduct that would cover the area of a football field at a depth of 150 feet — stockpiled at three sites on AltEn's property.

Wet cake is seen piling up at AltEn in this photo taken on Monday, March 8, 2021. 

• Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

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Nothing grows on a site north of Mead, shown in a photo taken Aug. 25, where AltEn's distiller's grains, or wet cake, was stockpiled. 

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Wet cake sits piled outside the AltEn plant in February, when it was shut down by state regulators who ran into confusion and legal obstacles when it tried to address complaints from the people of Mead about the now-closed ethanol plant.

• JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

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When the Nebraska Department of Agriculture first reached out to the USDA, which regulates what language must appear on seed bag label, it was told enforcing what the label said was the responsibility of the EPA, whose authority is limited when it comes to products treated with pesticides or fungicides.

• JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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