NDEE respond to spill at Mead AltEn ethanol facility

LINCOLN, Neb. — A spill at the AltEn ethanol facility near Mead was caused by frozen pipes on a 4 million-gallon digester, which caused the release of thin stillage and manure.

The spill was reported by AltEn on Feb. 12. At 2:30 a.m.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) responded to the discharge.

The NDEE staff monitored and assessed the discharge.

The agency observed spill material in culverts up to four and a half miles southeast of the initial spill site.

As of Feb. 16, the NDEE said the discharge has not migrating further and has not reached the Platte River.

AltEn has constructed a dam south of the Highway 66 and Road 7 junction to prevent further migration.

NDEE collected samples to determine if the material contains pesticides and requested support from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 7.

The agency said the EPA was on site to assess the spill, collect additional samples, give advice on cleanup and help with mitigation efforts. Sampling results could take up to two weeks to return.

On Feb. 17, NDEE said they issued a letter of non-compliance to AltEn.

The agency said they directed the facility to immediately construct additional barriers to prevent further migration; conducted hourly inspections for leaks on its second digester and constructed secondary containment in case of a potential failure and prevented snow melt from commingling with the spill material.

NDEE said they directed AltEn to provide written plans by noon on Feb. 18.

They said these plans are expected to describe how the facility will recover, transport and dispose of the digester material.

The plans are also expected to describe how the facility plans to prevent and contain a potential discharge from its second digester.

NDEE said they will have emergency response staff on site daily to monitor the situation and cleanup efforts. The agency will provide updates as they become available.