Sioux City Journal: Oil leaking from a tanker truck at a Boyden co-op has caused a blue-colored oily sheen in a creek running past the town. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources traced the source of the leak to the truck at the Farmers Co-op Society in Boyden. The co-op manager estimated than about 1,100…
The Columbus Telegram: The amount of water being released into the lower Missouri River will remain elevated at the start of the year, but should return to normal levels throughout 2019. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the amount of water being released from Gavins Point Dam on the Nebraska-South Dakota border was recently…
Sioux City Journal: The Sioux City Council will decide Monday whether to award contracts to two construction companies to demolish an aging storage tank and construct a new water main on the city’s west side. The project will connect the Western Hills pressure zone with the Indian Hills pressure zone, creating a single zone. It…
KRVN 880 Rural Radio: President Donald Trump on Thursday evening signed H.R. 4689, legislation championed by Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) to rollback outdated regulations negatively affecting ag producers in the Nebraska panhandle. The bill passed the House of Representatives in September and the Senate in December. “This law will…
Hastings Tribune: Two Northern North Dakota landowners with a history of oil-related spills on their land have donated $250,000 to promote education about cleaning up brine spills. The Bismarck Tribune reports that Daryl and Christine Peterson made the contribution this week to the Northwest Landowners Association Foundation. They says they want to bring more attention…
York News-Times: The City of York and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District (NRD) are continuing collaboration, in conjunction with Project GROW, within the city’s wellhead protection area . . . and this next step will include unique, interesting offerings for residents by way of rain gardens, rain barrels, compost projects, water testing and…
Scottsbluff Star-Herald: An administrative law judge in North Dakota is recommending that state officials issue a water permit for an oil refinery being developed near Theodore Roosevelt National Park that’s being opposed by environmentalists and some area landowners. Three landowners last summer challenged a proposed State Water Commission permit allowing the Davis Refinery to draw…
Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan: In order to head off problems, the James River Water Development District (JRWDD) will start real-time monitoring for nitrates in the river near Yankton. The JRWDD board unanimously decided Wednesday to rent the monitor, according to board chairman Dan Klimisch of Yankton. The action was taken during the board’s regular…
Sioux City Journal: A court document says a former supervisor intends to plead guilty to federal charges that he conspired with others to manipulate water sample test results at the Sioux City wastewater treatment plant. Patrick Schwarte’s attorney filed a notice Monday in U.S. District Court. His plea hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23. Prosecutors…
The Columbus Telegram: A federal judge is allowing four Native American tribes in the Dakotas to challenge the recent conclusion of federal officials that a Dakota Access oil pipeline spill wouldn’t unfairly affect them, further prolonging a court case that has lingered for more than two years. The Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Yankton and Oglala…
Kearney Hub: The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, more widely known as the Farm Bill, will increase overall funding for conservation programs in Nebraska. “In Nebraska, almost all wildlife habitat — and therefore almost all habitat improvement work – is located on privately owned lands,” said Jim Douglas, director of the Nebraska Game and Parks…