Fort Niobrara Former Small Arms Firing Range
northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 27, Township 34 North, Range 27 West
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Public Notice
Proposed Remedial Action
Fort Niobrara Former Small Arms Firing Range, Valentine, NE
Facility ID: 5413 Program ID: RAP 36-336-5304
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81‑15, 185.01 that the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) is proposing approval of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the Fort Niobrara Small Arms Firing Range (SAFR), which is located at 39983 Refuge Road, Valentine, Nebraska, 69201. The site is located in the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 27, Township 34 North, Range 27 West.
Soil at the site has been contaminated with lead as a result of previously operating as a SAFR. To address contaminantion, lead-contaminated soil and bullet fragments will be excavated from the surface and subsurface to levels below the US EPA’s regional screening level of 200 mg/kg. Lead bullets and fragments will be sifted out and transported to a licernsed scrap metal recycling facility, while contaminated soil will be transported to a permitted disposal facility. Groundwater will be sampled from temporary monitoring wells to confirm no impacts to groundwater.
Digital copies of the proposed RAP and supporting documents are available online at https://dwee.nebraska.gov/ by selecting “Public Records Search” at the bottom of the page, then selecting “Public Records Search” again. Type “5413” into the “DEQ Facility Number” field and select “RAP” from the “DEQ Program” dropdown box.
Any person may submit written comments regarding the proposed remedial action and may also request a public hearing, in writing, on or before September 18, 2026. A request for a public hearing must state the nature of the issue(s) to be raised and all arguments and factual grounds supporting such position(s). If the Director grants a public hearing, the hearing will be advertised by public notice at least 30 days prior to its occurrence. Comments and hearing requests should be emailed to dwee.vcpbrownfields@nebraska.gov or mailed to:
Thomas Buell
Environmental Manager
Remediation Division
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment
245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100
Lincoln, NE 68521
Please note that physical mail must be post-marked no later than September 18, 2026, to be accepted.
Individuals requiring special accommodations or alternate formats of materials should notify the Department by calling 402‑471‑2186. TDD users should call 800-833-7352 and ask the relay operator to call the Department at 402-471-2186. Si necesita traducción de documentos al Español, por favor llame a DWEE al 402‑471‑2186. The DWEE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and DWEE does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in or oppose actions protected/prohibited by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.