Source Water Assessment Program
Public Stakeholder Involvement

7.1 Advisory Committee

NDEQ made a decision to have one advisory committee that combined the technical and citizen advisory committees. A list of individuals and who they represent is shown below (in 7.1.2). This committee met on three different occasions, information from each meeting is included in Attachment A (The Attachment section was prepared for submittal to EPA with the SWAP description. It is available upon request from NDEQ). This committee will be retained for future input on issues involving the SWAP, such as Rules and Regulation development.

7.1.1 Meeting dates
November 12, 1998 Video Conference (see section 7.3.8)

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee was on January 8, 1998 and the main topics included:
The Advisory Committee met again on April 1st and broke out into four smaller groups. Each group answered questions dealing with different issues. The different groups included: Questions addressed and other information, including meeting notes from each of the four groups is included in Attachment A.

A meeting was held August 4, 1998 for review and comments on the SWAP program description and submittal for Nebraska. The draft program description was sent out prior to the meeting for the Advisory Committee to study. Written comments were taken from Advisory Committee members and NDEQ’s response to these comments is summarized in Attachment G.

7.1.2 Invited Advisory Committee Participants
Mr.DaveAikenUNL - Department of Ag Economics
Ms.DianaAllenLower Platte River Corridor Alliance
Mr.RobertAndersenNebraska Cooperative Council
Ms.MarshaBabcockNebraska Sierra Club
Mr.LashChaffinLeague of Municipalities
Mr.JoelChristensenDrinking Water Advisory Council and City of Omaha
Mr. DeanEdsonNebraska Association of Resources Districts
Mr.DeLynnHayUNL - Cooperative Extension
Ms.RachaelHerpelGroundwater Foundation
Ms.AliceLichtNebraska Fertilizer & Ag-Chemical Institute
Mr.DanLudwigNebraska Wildlife Federation
Mr. Bill LukashNebraska Rural Water Association
Mr.ArtMayMidwest Assistance Program
Mr.ScottMerritNebraska Corn Growers
Mr. JackMillsNebraska Association of County Officials
Mr.TerryO'BrienAmerican Water Works Association
Mr.JerryObristLincoln Water System
Dr.BillOrrNebraska Medical Association
Mr.LeeOrtonWell Drillers Association
Mr.Howard OttosonLeague of Women Voters
Mr.PaulPetersNebraska Pork Producers
Mr.RichRobinsonAmerican Consulting Engineers Council
Mr. DavidSandsNebraska Audubon Society
Mr.HerbScottNebraska Environmental Training Center
Mr.TroyBredenkampNebraska Cattleman’s Association
Ms.KrisThorpCenter for Rural Affairs
Dr.BobVolkUNL - Water Center
Mr.BobWestNebraska Rural Water Association
Dr.PerryWigleyUNL - Conservation and Survey Division
Mr.JeffYostNebraska Community Foundation Inc.
Dr.JohnAndersenUS Army Corps of Engineers
Mr.JasonClarkeUS Environmental Protection Agency
Mr.JackDanielNebraska Health and Human Services -Regulation & Licensure
Mr.DougDrulinerUS Geologic Survey
Mr.MichaelDurstNebraska State Fire Marshal Office
Mr.BrentEsmoilUS Fish and Wildlife Service
Mr.SteveGaulNebraska Natural Resource Commission
Mr.JamieGreenNebraska Department of Agriculture
Ms.MaryHardingNebraska Environmental Trust
Mr.LarryHutchinsonNebraska Game and Parks
Mr.HaroldKlaegeNatural Resouce Conservation Service
Ms.MaxineMoulNebraska Department of Economic Development
Mr.RodO'SullivanBureau of Reclamation
Mr.LarrySitzmanNebraska Department of Agriculture
Mr.DaleVagtsNebraska Department of Water Resources

7.2 Surface Water Users Committee

7.2.1 Meeting dates

Due to the fact that there are so few surface water systems in Nebraska, it was determined that a separate committee within the Advisory Committee should be developed to represent these systems and deal specifically with surface water issues. A list of individuals and who they represent is shown below. This committee met separately from the Advisory Committee on two different occasions, and with the Advisory Committee on two occasions. Meeting notes and decisions from each meeting are included in Attachment B.


7.2.2 Invited Surface Water Users Committee Participants

Mr.ScottBormanCity of Chadron
Mr.JoelChristensenOmaha Metropolitan Utilities District
Mr.EarnestDe GuniaVillage of Crawford
Mr.Michael LawsonCommunity of Beaver Lake
Mr.GaryMaderCity of Grand Island Utilities
Mr.JerryObristLincoln Water System
Mr.Steve OltmansPapio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
Mr. DavidSandsNebraska Audubon Society
Mr.JimSheldonCedar Knox Rural Water Project
Mr.PhilSoenksenUS Geologic Survey
Mr.KirkStockerCity of Kearney
Mr.SteveWalkerNDEQ Surface Water Section.
Mr.TroyWeatherbyCommunity of Beaver Lake
Mr.MichaelWentinkNebraska Health and Human Services -Regulation & Licensure
Mr.WarrenWhitakerCity of Blair
Mr.DanWileyUpper Niobrara White Natural Resources District
Mr.DougWoodbeckNebraska Health and Human Services - Regulation & Licensure

7.2.3 Mailings to Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee was sent notes from the meetings they were invited to, whether they attended or not. The committee was also sent a questionnaire containing Nebraska’s goal for SWAP and some other issues raised by EPA. The questionnaire is included in Attachment C. Also in the mailings, NDEQ informed the Advisory Committee of the draft SWAP availability on the internet. NDEQ felt it was very important to keep the Advisory Committee informed and allow them to give input whenever possible.

7.2.4 Goal Setting Meeting

On May 14, 1998 a group of people met to develop a goal for the State of Nebraska’s SWAP. Those involved in this meeting were group leaders from the Advisory Committee break out sessions, representatives from Nebraska Health and Human Services, and representatives from NDEQ. The meeting was run by a trained facilitator. The goal that was developed at this meeting was later sent out to the whole Advisory Committee for comments, a copy of the questionnaire is included in Attachment C.

7.3 Other Public Outreach and Coordination

7.3.1 Public Stakeholder Meetings at NRD offices

NDEQ has made a substantial effort to gain public stakeholder involvement before writing the SWAP submittal. Public stakeholder meetings for SWAP were held at 20 of the 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) from November 1997 through early May 1998. A map of NRD names and boundaries is included in Appendix F. Appendix F also indicates where and when the meetings were held, invitation lists, attendance lists from each meeting (see Attachment D), and notes regarding what was asked and discussed (see Attachment E). Due to the fact that public stakeholder meetings were held before a SWAP draft was written, the main topics discussed were the basic requirements from the guidance. The main issues that stakeholders commented on were:
The average attendance at each meeting was about 10 people, but ranged between 5 to 25 people. Each NRD produced a list of individuals that might be interested in attending a SWAP meeting, and invitations were sent out by NDEQ for each meeting. Follow up phone calls were made by NDEQ and NRDs to individuals that did not respond.

Most meetings were held at night to facilitate attendance. Attendance at the meetings was very good, with a wide range of people with different occupations or representing diverse interests. There were usually two representatives from NDEQ present, one to lead discussion and one to take notes. The majority of the meetings lasted at least two hours. Each meeting was deliberately kept small and informal in order to allow people to feel comfortable and willing to give input.

Introductions were made, then a brief description of SWAP and the requirements from the guidance and Federal legislation were explained. Next, each requirement was discussed in detail by following a handout prepared by NDEQ (all handouts are shown in Appendix I). Individuals were allowed to ask questions at any time, and were asked to give opinions and share ideas about every requirement. Each meeting was unique and something new was discussed at each one. Credit should be given to the NRDs in Nebraska for all their effort and cooperation in making the public stakeholder meetings possible. Some of the NRDs even provided doughnuts or lunch.

7.3.2 Public Presentations

Presentations about the Source Water Assessment Program have been done at numerous meetings and conferences throughout the State of Nebraska in 1997 and 1998. A list including the date, location, and NDEQ staff giving the presentation is included in Appendix G.

7.3.3 Coordination with the Groundwater Guardian Program

The Groundwater Foundation has a program that develops Groundwater Guardian Teams to do different activities and promote ground water protection in local communities. These teams get recognition for specific actions known as “Result Oriented Activities” (ROAs). Doing a contaminant source inventory has been adopted by the program as a ROA. Whenever possible, inventories done by the Groundwater Guardian Program will be adopted by NDEQ and used in the SWAP. The Groundwater Guardian Program held two meetings with NDEQ to specifically discuss Contaminant Source Inventories and SWAP. Team members from Ground Water Guardian Communities attended these meetings and gave input on program development. Agendas and other information from those meetings is included in Attachment F.

7.3.4 Coordination with the Resource Conservation and Development Areas

The Resource Conservation and Development Areas (RC&Ds) received a grant from USDA to do educational activities and help communities with WHP activities during the summer of 1998. A training session was held on June 16, 1998 to educate RC&D managers, interns, and volunteers on the WHP Program. The RC&Ds worked with communities to help them complete the information needed by NDEQ to draw a WHPA map. They also performed on-the-ground Contaminant Source Inventories with members of the community. Whenever possible, Contaminant Source Inventories done by the RC&Ds will be adopted by NDEQ and used in the SWAP. A list of those who attended the June 16 meeting is included in Attachment F. A follow up meeting was held on August 12, with representatives from all the participating RC&Ds, NRDs, NeRWA, Santee Sioux Tribe, and NDEQ.

7.3.5 Coordination with the Nebraska Rural Water Association

The Nebraska Rural Water Association (NeRWA) has a Ground Water Technician on staff as of March 1997. This individual does work regarding WHP for communities. Funding from EPA to the National Rural Water Association became available allowing Rural Water Associations in individual states to do WHP work. This individual does delineations using the WHPA2 computer model, which is also used by NDEQ. A community can also receive assistance in doing an inventory from NeRWA. The Ground Water Technician also provides valuable WHP information to water operators and elected officials. Whenever possible, WHPA maps and Contaminant Source Inventories done by the NeRWA are adopted by NDEQ and used in the SWAP. NeRWA has invited NDEQ to speak at various meetings which have been very beneficial in providing information to PWSSs (see Attachment F for notes).

7.3.6 Coordination with the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance

Two planning meetings have been held between staff with the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance and NDEQ on November 16, 1997 and April 16, 1998 to discuss water quality investigations to assess and protect drinking water supplies in the Lower Platte River Corridor. NDEQ has contracted with the University of Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division to complete the WHPA delineations for this area. This was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance (LPRCA) will coordinate Contaminant Source Inventories among interested communities and suppliers once the WHPA maps are drawn. A handout from LPRCA that explains their plans for water quality investigations is included in Attachment F. Plans are underway to get on-the-ground inventories done in this area (see section 4.2.4). Two follow-up meetings were held on September 9, and November 10, 1998.

7.3.7 Programs and Groups Working in Cooperation with SWAP

A list of programs and groups working in cooperation with SWAP, and a list of individuals or groups who have published information about SWAP are shown in Attachment F. Many different organizations and agencies have published different articles and announcements regarding the Source Water Assessment Program.

7.3.8 Video Conference

A video conference was held on November 12, 1998 at 8:00 P.M. Central, 7:00 P.M. Mountain, through the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension satellite downlink sites. The purpose of this conference was to outline the SWAP draft and receive public comment on it. The video conference was broadcast to 20 sites throughout the State of Nebraska, individuals could call in on a toll free number to comment. A map showing the site locations and flyer used to announce the video conference is included in Appendix H. Again, public stakeholder involvement is a priority to NDEQ and we hoped to reach anyone who was interested in participating. All members of the Advisory Committee as well as the stakeholder (small group) invitees were invited to the video conference. Over 2000 copies of the aforementioned flyer were distributed, and a press release was sent out. A copy of the press release and various newspaper clippings regarding the video conference are included in Appendix H. Copies of the conference are available on video tape.


Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186