A group of seed and agrichemical companies have mostly taken over cleanup and remediation efforts from the state of Nebraska for an ethanol plant contaminated with their pesticides after the plant mishandled treated corn seed disposal, reports the Progressive Farmer.
While the state and EPA stand back, these companies are searching for nearby outlets for the contaminated wastewater, as well as seeking new partners in the cleanup. Specifically, the companies were fighting to involve a feedlot adjacent to the now-idled AltEn LLC ethanol plant in Mead in the cleanup effort.
Over the objections of seed companies, the Saunders County Board of Supervisors earlier this week granted a conditional use permit to allow for the sale of the Mead Cattle Company to Texas-based Champion Feeders.
AltEn, a 24-million-gallon ethanol plant, remains idle and is facing a lawsuit from the state.
The AltEn experience has raised concerns about how discarded seed corn is handled and whether more regulation is needed.
Read the full report at the Progressive Farmer.
Related Reading
Officials Table Decision on AltEn Plant Permit
Senators Say State Agencies 'Slow to Act' Against AltEn
State Sues Ethanol Plant Over Pollution
