Pollutant permits adopted

Municipalities will be required to obtain a permit to discharge pollutants under a bill passed by the Legislature April 23.

LB413, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, authorizes the state Department of Environmental Quality to issue permits to any political subdivision seeking to discharge pollutants from a point source into any body of water in the state.

The political subdivision can request an evaluation to determine how best to meet federal requirements in a sustainable way. The department will evaluate several factors, including:
• the capability of the political subdivision to raise and secure necessary funding;
• affordability to ratepayers;
• growth potential of the political subdivision;
• efficacy of existing infrastructure for projected needs;
• overall costs and environmental benefits;
• environmental improvements made by the political subdivision; and
• other relevant economic and social concerns or environmental conditions.

The department will have flexibility in deciding which criteria to use in evaluating individual permits.

The bill passed on a 45-0 vote.