Permit renewal proposed with major modification to expand for Imperial C&D disposal site

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) is considering a five-year renewal of the operating permit for the City of Imperial Construction and Demolition Waste Disposal Area.
According to a public notice issued by the department, DWEE has received an application to renew Permit No. NE0204269 for the facility, which is located approximately one-half mile south of Imperial. Following an initial review, the department has made a preliminary determination recommending renewal of the permit.
The facility operates under Nebraska’s solid waste management regulations and is authorized to accept construction and demolition waste resulting from land clearing and the demolition of buildings, roads, and other structures. Accepted materials include fill materials, wood, land-clearing debris other than yard waste, drywall, plaster, non-asbestos insulation, roofing materials, plumbing fixtures, glass, plastic, carpeting, electrical wiring, pipe, and metals.
The disposal area is located between Avenues 331 and 333, with a legal description of the northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 6 North, Range 38 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian in Chase County.
As part of the permit renewal, the city is proposing a major modification to expand the disposal area footprint by 2.9 acres through construction of a second phase. Current and historical operations have been confined to Phase 1, which encompasses approximately 2.3 acres. Phase 1 is expected to reach capacity sometime in 2026, at which point filling operations would shift to the proposed Phase 2 area, located adjacent to the existing site.
DWEE is accepting written public comments and requests for a public hearing on the proposed permit renewal. Requests for a hearing must be submitted in writing and must identify the issues proposed for discussion and how they relate to the permit renewal.
Comments and hearing requests must be postmarked by Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, and should be sent to Daniel LeMaistre, Waste Permit Section Supervisor, Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922.
The department will make a final decision to renew or deny the permit based on its review of the application, the facility’s compliance history, and public input. DWEE will notify the applicant and other interested parties once a decision is made.
Digital copies of the draft permit, legal notice, and administrative record are available through the department’s public records search at https://dee.nebraska.gov
. Persons needing special accommodations due to a disability may contact the department at (402) 471-2186. Spanish translation assistance is also available by calling the same number.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting LeMaistre at (402) 471-2186 or by email at NDEE.solidwaste@nebraska.gov.
The full legal notice appears on page 6 of this week’s issue of the Republican.