LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) Board of Directors asked Monolith for more information before the Board acts on a well permit for Monolith’s new plant near Hallam.

In a special meeting on March 24, the Board approved six motions requiring more information be added to a draft Hydrogeologic Analysis Report Monolith issued in December, as part of the well permitting process. LPSNRD hired LRE Water to review the draft analysis and make recommendations to the Board, which were considered at the special meeting along with two other motions from the Board.

The Board voted to require more detailed information on the movement of groundwater projected in the groundwater model, information that shows poorer water quality in the bedrock would not move upward and cause problems during the next 50 years, provide an inventory of private wells within 3 miles of the site, develop a plan to monitor and react should well interference occur, and consider future climate impacts on the aquifer.

Monolith will now complete its well permit application, including the new requirements, and submit it to LPSNRD. A public hearing on the application will be scheduled prior to final consideration by the Board.

In other action the Board:

• Extended authority of the Board Chair to determine regular Board meeting dates, times and locations through the end of 2021.

The next regular meeting of the LPSNRD Board of Directors will be a virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 21, starting at 7 PM. Meeting information will be posted at LPSNRD.org when it becomes available.