GRAND ISLAND – Meatpacking plant, JBS in Grand Island had an issue that caused 2 million gallons of wastewater to enter the Wood River.
According to a release from the Nebraska Department of Energy and Environment, on Saturday morning JBS had a breach of one of their wastewater lagoons, where 4 million gallons had been discharged with 2 million gallons leaving the property into a ditch that leads to the Wood River. Evidence of wastewater was seen 1.5 miles downstream from the site in the Wood River. A cleanup crew was contracted and seen on site Sunday. NDEE is continuing to evaluate the situation.
The NDEE released the full statement below.
“At approximately 5 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, Swift Beef (also known as JBS) in Grand Island had a breach of one of their anaerobic wastewater lagoons. The facility estimates approximately 4 million gallons of wastewater discharged from the lagoon with approximately 2 million gallons leaving the property. Wastewater leaving the property went into a ditch near the facility, which leads to the Wood River. The facility ceased operation at 6:45 a.m. and notified NDEE of the discharge at 8 a.m. NDEE personnel arrived on-site at approximately 12:20 p.m. that day. NDEE personnel observed and documented the situation on site. At approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, NDEE personnel observed evidence of wastewater as far as 1.5 miles downstream from the facility in the Wood River. On Sunday, Jan. 7, Swift Beef contracted a cleanup company and eight vacuum trucks were seen on site by NDEE personnel. On Sunday, NDEE personnel observed evidence that the discharge had reached the Platte River, approximately 15 river miles from the facility. NDEE is not aware of any immediate health risks posed by this situation but recommends avoiding all direct contact with the impacted stream segments until additional information is available.
NDEE is continuing to evaluate the situation and will provide more information as it becomes available. NDEE also continues to be in contact with the facility and has collected water samples from various points upstream and downstream of the discharge to quantify the impacts of the discharge.”
