Nebraska DEQ postpones meetings on state's Clean Power Plan implementation after Supreme Court decision

In light of the recent Supreme Court decision to delay implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) postponed a series of public meetings intended to discuss the state’s implementation plan.

“Because the Supreme Court stay undercuts any urgency states have to submit a plan in September, I have decided to postpone indefinitely the CPP meetings previously scheduled for the next three weeks,” NDEQ Director Jim Macy said. “NDEQ appreciates the input from our stakeholders and thanks them for their involvement.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling stays implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation until litigation against it, brought by a coalition of 26 states, is decided by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. The NDEQ had scheduled the postponed meetings for Broken Bow, Lexington, Grand Island, South Sioux City, Lincoln, Valentine, Alliance and Ogallala.

“NDEQ staff will continue our important work of compliance assistance, working on gaining efficiencies in permitting, and inspections,” Macy said. “NDEQ will retain any information gathered through the NDEQ website portal on this issue for future considerations. NDEQ does not plan to actively respond to inquiry on this rule until the courts make a final determination.”