The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) announces proposed changes to two (2) sets of agency regulations: Title 126 – Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Management of Waste and Title 132 – Integrated Solid Waste Management Regulations. 

The proposed regulations, concise summaries, and public outreach materials can be viewed on the DWEE's Draft and Proposed Rules and Regulations page.

The proposed changes to Title 126 combine chapters; clarify definitions, release notification requirements, and release containment requirements; and change the name of Title 126 to Regulations for Releases of Oil or Hazardous Substances.

The proposed changes to Title 132 adopt the federal Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule and its subsequent amendments; move and streamline regulations for the management of paunch manure from Title 126 to Title 132; make cleanup, clarifying, and gap-filling revisions; and update agency name and landfill disposal fee references consistent with legislation passed in 2025.

DWEE invites you to provide comments on these proposals. Comments on the Title 126 proposal can be sent to  DWEE.PetroleumRemediation@nebraska.gov.  Comments on the Title 132 proposal can be sent to DWEE.Waste@nebraska.gov.

As part of this process, DWEE invites you to participate in two (2) webinars in which DWEE staff will explain both proposals and take questions from the public.  These webinars will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, and at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The content presented in each webinar will be similar.  DWEE will be sending email invitations to its relevant email contact lists and you may also request an invitation by emailing either of the email addresses above.

All comments received between now and Thursday, May 21, 2026, will be reviewed and considered by DWEE prior to finalizing both rule proposals.  On Friday, May 22, 2026, the formal comment period will begin for a rulemaking hearing before the Nebraska Environmental Quality Council (EQC) on June 24, 2026, at which the EQC will consider adoption of the rule proposals.  Formal comments submitted to DWEE.EQC@nebraska.gov between May 22 – June 23 or in-person at the rulemaking hearing on June 24 will be part of the rulemaking hearing record and included in the materials presented to the EQC.

To repeat and summarize, comments received on or before Thursday, May 21, 2026, are considered “informal” and are provided to the relevant DWEE staff and supervisors.  Comments received between May 22 – June 23 or in-person at the rulemaking hearing on June 24 are considered “formal” and are provided to the EQC members who will decide whether to adopt the proposed regulation changes. You are welcome to submit comments during both the informal and formal public comment periods.

Thank you for your interest in DWEE’s work to manage and protect Nebraska’s water, energy, and environmental resources.  We encourage you to forward this email to others who may have an interest in these regulation changes.

Important Dates and Deadlines for Proposed Changes to Title 126 -- Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Management of Waste and Title 132 -- Integrated Solid Waste Management Regulations.