Distribution Of Aid
(Grants, Rebates, Loans, Reimbursements)
Grants
Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Grants
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund provides grants for eligible integrated waste management programs and projects. These may include recycling systems, market development for recyclable materials, intermediate processing facilities and facilities using recyclable materials in new products, yard waste composting and composting with sewage sludge, waste reduction and waste exchange, household hazardous waste programs, the consolidation of solid waste disposal facilities and use of transfer stations, and incineration for energy recovery. Grants are prioritized and awarded on a competitive basis.
Nebraska Clean Diesel Grant Program
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality established the Nebraska Clean Diesel Grant Program in 2008 to distribute funding received by the Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of reducing diesel emissions. This funding was authorized by Congress in the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, or DERA, which was created as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. DERA provides funding annually to states for the establishment of grant and loan programs that reduce diesel emissions.
Scrap Tire Grants
The Nebraska Legislature has set aside a portion of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Fund to provide grants for eligible scrap tire recycling or reduction projects. Grants are prioritized and awarded on a competitive basis.
Litter Reduction and Recycling Grants
Provides funds to support programs to reduce litter, provide education, and promote recycling in Nebraska. Grants may be awarded to both public and private entities.
Nonpoint Source Management Grants (Section 319)
Under Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act, the federal government awards funds to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to provide financial assistance for the prevention and abatement of nonpoint source water pollution. This funding is provided to units of government, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, for projects that facilitate implementation of the state Nonpoint Source Management Plan.
Source Water Protection Grants Program
Approximately $100,000 per year is available to finance projects that protect public water systems, in Nebraska, that serve a population of 10,000 or less. Grant supported projects include those that address drinking water quality, quantity, security, and/or education.
Targeted Brownfields - Section 128(a) Assessment Grants
Under Section 128(a) of the federal Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, the federal government awards funds to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to provide financial assistance to communities and counties interested in redeveloping property to conduct environmental site assessments on sites that may be contaminated. Common brownfield properties include vacant or under-utilized industrial or commercial property in older parts of communities, such as railroad facilities, salvage yards, dry cleaners, landfills, gas stations, and a variety of other sites.
Small Community Matching Grants
Grants for construction or modification of publicly owned wastewater treatment works, including community assessments and facility planning, are available under the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) for communities of 5,000 inhabitants or less which have been awarded a CWSRF loan and demonstrate serious financial hardship. A 50% grant for up to $100,000 is available to these communities whose median household income (MHI) is 80% or less than the State median household income. For communities falling between 80% and 100% of the State MHI, the matching grant level will be set between 0% and 50% by interpolation. All grant awards are dependent on availability of funds and must be matched by CWSRF loan funds to the community.
Deconstruction Grants Program
The Deconstruction Grants Program was created by LB 180, passed in 2009. Through this bill, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act was expanded to include grants for the reimbursement of costs for the deconstruction of abandoned buildings, and to encourage the recycling or reuse of the building’s materials.
Small Community Planning Grants (no current link or other information)
The Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund program periodically sets aside a certain amount of money to provide planning grant assistance to small public water supply systems as a part of the state’s capacity development strategy to help communities develop technical, managerial, and financial capacity particularly as it relates to long-term capital improvement needs. This financial assistance is provided to communities to identify capital improvement needs as well as increase their readiness to proceed in accomplishing these improvements. Planning grants may be provided to publicly owned water supply systems serving 10,000 or fewer people, including any city, town, village, sanitary improvement district, natural resource district, or other public body created by or pursuant to state law having jurisdiction over a public water supply system. Privately owned water supply systems are not eligible for assistance. Grants are provided for up to 90% of the costs for eligible preliminary engineering report services, but cannot exceed $10,000 per system.
Storm Water Grants (no current link or other information)
The Storm Water Management Plan Program is a grant program that funds a portion of the storm water management duties of certain cities and counties within urbanized areas as required by the Clean Water Act.
Emergency Grants
(no current link or other information)
Emergency grants are available for wastewater treatment works that have been damaged or destroyed by natural disaster or other unanticipated actions or circumstances. Such grants may be combined with a loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and are not to be used for routine maintenance of facilities.
Rebates
Landfill Disposal Fee Rebate
The Nebraska Legislature has set aside a portion of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Fund to provide a rebate to political subdivisions that have developed and are implementing a written purchasing policy requiring a preference for purchasing products, materials or supplies that are manufactured or produced from recycled material.
Loans
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund provides low interest loans to municipalities for construction of wastewater treatment facilities and sanitary sewer collection systems to alleviate public health and environmental problems. Privately owned wastewater treatment systems are not eligible for assistance.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) provides loans for construction of public water supply systems, which may be both privately and publicly owned, and nonprofit noncommunity water systems.
Reimbursements
Illegal Dump Site Cleanup Program
The Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup Program provides funding assistance to political subdivisions by reimbursing costs the political subdivision incurs in cleaning up solid waste illegally disposed along public roadways or ditches. Reimbursement may be provided based on funding availability for the removal of items such as household waste, white goods, construction and demolition waste, and furniture and proper disposal at a permitted facility or recycling.
Petroleum Release Remedial Action Fund
The Petroleum Release Remedial Action Fund was established to help pay remediation costs for owners/operators of facilities that have leaking petroleum tanks. Costs for both underground and above ground tanks releases are eligible for reimbursement.
DEQ.NE.Gov Home Page
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Nebraska.gov
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186