Focus On Environmental Quality Council
December 15, 2020
Web Meeting
1:00 PM (Central)


.Agenda



December 15, 2020
1:00 PM CST
001
Roll Call
002
Announcements

003
Minutes of June 25, 2020 Meeting

004
Reports of EQC Members

005
Report of DEE Director

006
Old Business

007
New Business

008
Next Meeting

009
Public Hearing on the 2021 Litter Percent Allocations (see attachment above)

010
Public Hearing on the Amendment to the 2021 Intended Use Plan

011
Adjournment


UPDATED
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
AND PUBLIC MEETING
STATE OF NEBRASKA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY (NDEE)
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL

This public notice updates the previous public notice published on October 23, 2020. Only the location of the meeting has been changed to a web meeting.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §84-1411 and Executive Order No. 20-36, the EQC will hold a web meeting and public hearings on December 15, 2020 beginning at 1:00 P.M. Central Time (CT). The meeting and hearings will be conducted electronically via web meeting. Public and media should send an email by December 14, 2020 to NDEE.eqc@nebraska.gov to attend the web meeting. The purpose of the hearings is to take testimony and evidence about the proposals outlined in this notice.

The meeting agenda and a draft copy of the proposals scheduled for hearing are available on the NDEE website at http://dee.ne.gov or by telephoning the NDEE office at 402-471-2186 to request a copy.

All interested persons may attend the web meeting and testify during the public hearings. Interested persons should provide notice in advance to attend or testify at the web meeting by sending an email to NDEE.eqc@nebraska.gov not later than 3:00 P.M. CT, December 14, 2020. Interested persons may also submit written comments online to NDEE.eqc@nebraska.gov prior to the hearing, which will be entered into the hearing record if received not later than 3:00 P.M. CT, December 14, 2020.

Please notify the NDEE at least one week in advance of the EQC meeting if auxiliary aids or reasonable accommodations or alternate formats of materials are needed. Contact phone number is 402-471-2186. TDD users call 800-833-7352 and ask the relay operator to call us at 402-471-2186.

A public hearing will be held on the following:

1. Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program, 2021 Funding Percentage Allocations. The NDEE administers the Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Fund in percentage amounts to grantees for projects within three categories: public education, cleanup, and recycling. Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-1561 requires the EQC to annually determine the percentages for each category. A statewide litter fee is the source of revenue for the fund. At this hearing, the EQC will take action on the NDEE recommendations for percentage amounts. For the Year 2021, the NDEE recommends the following percentage allocations: recycling 28.9%, public education 68.0%, and cleanup 3.1% with additional approval to adjust these percentages by up to 20%. All persons affected by the proposed allocations are hereby notified that modifications may be offered to the proposed percentage allocations or the EQC may propose new allocations. The EQC will vote to adopt, amend or not approve the NDEE proposal after hearing and considering all the testimony and written submissions.

2. Amendment to the 2021 Intended Use Plan and Project Priority Lists for determining loan recipients under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (IUP). The amendment would allow refinancing for Clean Water State Revolving Fund borrowers, clarify that interest rates may be adjusted quarterly, allow for additional percentage reduction for green project reserve funding, allow financial assistance for system leak detection, and allow a blended rate for new loans for borrowers with outstanding debt to the State Revolving Funds. The IUP is developed by the NDEE in compliance with Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-15,152, Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-5321, Title 131 – Rules and Regulations for Wastewater Treatment Facilities and Drinking Water Construction Assistance Program, and the federal Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. The EQC approved the 2021 IUP on June 25, 2020, after a public hearing. The 2021 IUP describes how Nebraska intends to use money available in the two funds for making loans to qualified recipients for assistance in construction needs. The purpose of the hearing is to accept public testimony and EQC approval of the proposed amendment to the 2021 IUP. The EQC will vote to adopt, amend or modify the proposed amendments to the 2021 IUP after hearing and considering all the testimony and written submissions.