&EPA
             nited States
            Environmental Protection
            Agency
           Office of External Affairs
           Region VII
           324 East 11th Street
           Kansas City, Missouri 64106
September 1980
Profile of
Environmental
Quality!

Nebraska    j
      $0*

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Preface
The Environmental Profile is a report
to the people of Nebraska  on  the
quality of their environment.

At one time  natural  cleansing pro-
cesses were adequate to maintain a
livable environment,  but these pro-
cesses have  not been able to keep
pace  with  rapidly evolving modern
society. Our  aim for the  future of
Nebraska  must  be  to  reach  a
reasonable  balance   between  the
benefits of economic  growth (with its
attendant   increased   energy
demands) and the need for healthful
air, clean water, and the  aesthetic
qualities  of life that characterize the
State.

Toward  this  end,   I  invite  all
Nebraskans to be involved in identify-
ing and solving environmental prob-
lems.

The technical data on which this re-
port  is based are available from the
Region VII office of the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA). Any
persons interested in  investigating a
particular topic in greater depth or
those needing additional detail for
planning  or management  purposes
should contact this office. Updated
reports  will  be  issued  as  im-
provements and expansions to the in-
formation become available.
Your comments, questions, and sug-
gestions are welcome.
Kathleen Q. Camin, Ph.D.
Regional Administrator
Region VII, U.S. EPA

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Contents
Page Number
   Water Resources	   6
   AirQuality	  22
   Solid Waste	  28
   Hazardous Materials	  30
   Pesticides	  32
   Radiation	  34
   Noise	  36
   EPA Mission	  38
   Further Information .    	  39


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Introduction
Nebraska,  Iowa,   Kansas,  and
Missouri, which make up EPA Region
VII, are among the leading corn and
wheat producing  States in the Na-
tion. These  States  also produce a
significant  share of  the  soybean,
grain  sorghum, fat  cattle,  and fin-
ished hogs that are  supplied  to
American and foreign markets.

Although the States in Region VII can
best be characterized as rural, 65 per-
cent of their nearly 12 million people
live in urban  areas.  In  Nebraska,
metropolitan areas such as Omaha
have  environmental  problems
resulting from major industrial opera-
tions, municipal services, transporta-
tion,  and  energy   production.
Metropolitan areas, however, do not
have a monopoly on  environmental
problems.  Hundreds of communities
with populations of less  than  5000
have some of the same problems, but
they suffer the disadvantage of hav-
ing inadequate tax bases to deal with
them.

Few realize the extent and serious-
ness of the results of  air pollution. It
not only harms public health, but also
corrodes physical structures of all
kinds  and  damages  agricultural
crops.

Air quality varies widely throughout
the Region.  Pollution in rural areas
may  result from higher-than-recom-
mended background  levels of  sus-
pended  particles, whereas pollution
in urban areas comes from industry
and  transportation.  The  means  of
controlling air pollution depends on
the meteorology, the sources,  and
the background air  characteristics,
which will differ from  area to area.

Nebraska is blessed with high-quality
streams and lakes, especially in the
Sandhills region. Even  so, many  of
our streams, rivers, and  lakes are
severely polluted. It would be difficult
to find a body of water that does not
bear  some mark of man's activities.
The  pollution comes from various
sources:  inadequately  treated
sewage  from some communities; oil
and chemical spills by industry; and
animal  wastes,  fertilizer, salts, and
pesticides from  farms.

Solid waste (some of which is hazard-
ous)  is a problem to everyone. Mil-
lions of tons are discarded  in the
Region each year. This waste ranges
from  common  household  trash  to
complex  materials  in  industrial
wastes,  sewage sludge, agricultural
residues, mining refuse,  and  path-
ological  wastes from  institutions
such as hospitals and  laboratories.
Many dangerous materials discarded

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by society over the past few decades
have endured in the environment.

These  materials may contribute  to
the pollution of groundwater because
of improperly sited or operated land-
fills and  surface  waste  disposal
ponds. This  is particularly critical in
Region VII because nearly half of the
population uses groundwater as a
source of drinking water.  In addition,
improper handling or disposal of haz-
ardous waste can cause  other kinds
of environmental damage, such as air
pollution,  contamination  of the food
chain, and poisoning by  direct con-
tact.
skilled environmental capability that
the Nation needs.

The  EPA, State and  local  govern-
ments,  and  private citizens  must
work together to restore the quality of
our  environment  and  protect  the
Region's natural  resources for future
generations.
The Environmental Protection Agen-
cy (EPA) is engaged in a massive ef-
fort to restore America's water qual-
ity, to reduce air pollution, and to find
a comprehensive approach to other
environmental problems associated
with pesticide use, radiation, solid
and   hazardous  waste  disposal,
mechanically  generated noise, and
toxic  substances. The EPA is first
and  foremost a  regulatory agency
with responsibility for setting and en-
forcing standards. The agency also
offers  technical  and   financial
assistance for environmental protec-
tion  efforts at all levels of govern-
ment.

As a research body, the EPA monitors
and  analyzes  the environment and
conducts   scientific  studies.  The
agency provides technical and scien-
tific information to the public and the
training necessary  to develop  the

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Water Resources
Sources of Water Pollution
                                                                               Water plays a crucial role in the lives
                                                                               of every person living in  Nebraska.
                                                                               Good quality water for drinking, agri-
                                                                               culture,  and other daily  needs  is
                                                                               essential. Water is  also needed for
                                                                               recreational activities such as swim-
                                                                               ming, fishing, and boating. Cities and
                                                                               towns that have grown along water-
                                                                               ways  frequently depend  on  these
                                                                               waterways for waste disposal and, in
                                                                               some  eases, for water supply. In-
                                                                               dustries require fresh water  to pro-
                                                                               duce goods and to carry away treated
                                                                               wastes resulting from their opera-
                                                                               tions.

                                                                               As a result of the demand made on
                                                                               them, the waterways of Nebraska are
                                                                               often  contaminated.  Pollution
                                                                               sources can be categorized as either
                                                                               point or nonpoint. A point source is a
                                                                               polluting  discharge with  an iden-
                                                                               tifiable outlet, such as a pipe to a
                                                                               lake  or stream. Examples are in-
                                                                               dustrial  and municipal wastewater
                                                                               treatment plants. A nonpoint source
                                                                               has no  particular  outlet;  rather, it
                                                                               allows pollutants to enter the water-
                                                                               ways at several different places and
                                                                               often over  broad areas. Examples of
                                                                               contaminants from nonpoint sources
                                                                               include  fertilizers,  pesticides, and
                                                                               sediment from agricultural practices;
                                                                               metals, salts, solids, and  other con-
                                                                               taminants in runoff from city streets.

                                                                               Both point and  nonpoint sources af-
                                                                               fect the water quality  of Nebraska's
                                                                               rivers. The  lowered quality manifests
                                                                               itself in such things as fish kills and
                                                                               lake use impairment. These  same
                                                                               pollutant  sources  also  affect
                                                                               Nebraska's groundwater,   which  is

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the  principal  source  of drinking
water.

Point Sources

Point source discharges  into water
bodies are both municipal and non-
municipal in nature.

The people and industries served by
municipal sewerage generate more
than  25  billion  gallons  of sewage
every day in the United States. In the
past,  some  communities provided
only primary treatment of their waste;
that is, they screened floating solids
and allowed other solids to settle in
holding ponds. Present laws  require
that wastewater be further treated by
a series of processes called "secon-
dary treatment," which is required of
all publicly owned sewage treatment
plants. In certain eases, treatment
beyond the secondary level may be
mandated to meet water quality stan-
dards  in the  receiving streams or
lakes.

Recognizing  that  many  State and
local governments could not afford to
build  needed  treatment  facilities
without financial  assistance, Con-
gress developed a program of Feder-
al aid, in  which grants are offered to
cover 75 percent of the costs of con-
structing  publicly  owned sewage
treatment works.  The  remaining  25
percent is  paid  by state  and local
governments. The graph  shows  the
amount  of  Federal  construction
grants provided in Nebraska in recent
years. More than 17,000  sueh grant
projects are active nationwide.
       Federal Support Obligated for Wastewater Treatment Facilities
                            in Nebraska
   50
to

|  30
13
"5
0>
§  20
   10
         1971   1972'   1973   1974   1975    1976   1977   1978   1979
      •S20.500

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Sources of Water Pollution (continued)
Point Sources (continued)
years. More than  17,000 sueh grant
projects are active nationwide.

The  EPA  has established  effluent
limits on  the  amount  and  kind  of
pollutants  that can  be discharged
from  various  categories  of  non-
municipal sources such as chemical
plants, oil refineries, and meat pack-
ing plants. No point source,  muni-
cipal or nonmunicipal, can discharge
wastes into a body of water unless it
first obtains a  permit from the State.
The  permit states  what and  how
much can be discharged  and still
meet effluent limits and water quality
standards. The pie charts show com-
pliance with permit conditions.

Federal and state agencies also use
other means of controlling pollution
from  point sources.  These include
(10 a   requirement  that  some  very
strong or  toxic industrial wastes  be
"pretreated"  before they  are
discharged into  public  sewer sys-
tems,  (2) a  special   program   to
regulate toxic  pollutants, and (3) the
issuance of permits for disposal and
use of dredged and fill material in or
near the water.

Livestock   feedlots  are also  con-
sidered    point   sources.   The
Agricultural Pollution Control  Divi-
sion  administers  an  onsite inspec-
tion  program for  the  evaluation  of
pollution  potential from existing and
proposed livestock  operations
across the State. To date, over 7600
operations have been inspected, and
14.5 percent of these have been re-
quired  to  take measures aimed at
pollution  abatement.  Currently, 840
livestock   waste  control facilities
have been constructed, and an opera-
tion and maintenance  inspection pro-
gram is administered for all waste
control facilities. In addition, 482 Na-
tional Pollutant Discharge Elimina-
tion  System (NPDES) permits have
been issued and  1770 applications
have been exempted from permit re-
quirements.
                 Percentage of Major Sources Meeting Permit
                   Requirements for Effluents in Nebraska
                                  (1979)
                                           42
                                     Municipal Sources
                         32
                 Nonmunicipal Sources
8

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Nonpoint Sources

Agricultural  runoff is  a major non-
point source of pollutants.  Runoff
from farming and grazing land con-
tributes  significant  amounts  of
suspended  solids,  nutrients, and
bacterial    contamination   to
Nebraska's water.

Nebraska has prepared a water quali-
ty management plan  to assess ex-
isting  and  possible  water  quality
problems  and  is  developing  a
strategy to deal with these problems.
A key element of this planning has
been the designation of those areas
most in need of practical and effec-
tive  measures to curb runoff from
agricultural  operations and thereby
minimize soil erosion and water con-
tamination. Known as Best Manage-
ment Practices,  these measures in-
clude  terraces, drainage  tiles,
grassed waterways, schedules for ef-
ficient application of  fertilizers and
pesticides,  and  other conservation
practices.

The  water quality management plan
also deals with pollution from other
nonpofnt sources,  such as  urban
stermwater  runoff,  septic  tank,
failures,  roadside erosion, streanv
bank  erosion,  construction  site
runoff, and leaching from landfills.

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Water  Resources
Rivers

Stream Quality

The 1983 goal of the Clean Water Aet
is to make our Nation's waters suit-
able  for  swimming  and  fishing
wherever that  goal  is  attainable.
Many types of pollutants now affect
these and other uses. Important as-
pects of clean water are described
below.

 •Water temperature is vital. Each
  fish species has its own range
  of water temperature tolerance.
  When these tolerances are ex-
  ceeded,  aquatic  life  can   be
  harmed.

 • Oxygen dissolved in water is as
  important  to aquatic life as ox-
  ygen in air  is to humans. Pol-
  lutants  such  as   improperly
  treated sewage can deplete ox-
  ygen  and  suffocate fish  and
  other aquatic life.

 •The pH of water, which relates
  to the acidity and  alkalinity, is
  measured  on a scale from 0 to
  14. The value of 7 is considered
  neutral; anything over 7 is alka-
  line; anything under 7 is acidic.
  Either too high or too low a pH
  adversely affects stream life. Ex-
  treme values in either direction
  can be harmful in themselves or
  can  increase  the   toxieity  of
  other substances in the water.
  Changes  in  pH can affect fish
  life by preventing fish eggs from
  hatching  and  by  destroying
  floating plants and animals that
  serve as food for the fish.
•The trophic state of a river refers
 to the productivity of the water.
 An overabundance of nutrients,
 especially nitrogen  and phos-
 phorus,  can  create excessive
 plant growth, which not only is
 unsightly,  but  also   affects
 recreational  and other uses  of
 the water.

•The toxieity  of  water refers  to
 the concentrations of toxic ma-
 terials  found in it. Pesticides,
 polychlorinated  biphenyls
 (PCBs), heavy metals,  cyanide,
 and ammonia are examples  of
 toxic materials.

• Excessive levels  of  bacteria
 cause streams to be unfit for ac-
 tivities involving human contact,
 such as water-skiing and swim-
 ming. The amount of fecal eol-
 iform (bacteria that normally live
 in the intestines of humans and
 other warm-blooded animals) is
 directly related  to the amount
 and kinds of pollution from sew-
 age and animal waste sources
 in the water. These bacteria are
 used as indicator organisms  to
 alert the  possible presence  of
 other, more harmful  organisms
 in the water.

•The total volume of solids refers
 to the dissolved and suspended
 material  in  the water.  These
 solids affect  the clarity, hard-
 ness,  and corrosiveness of the
 water.
 • Aesthetic  value  refers to the
  general  beauty and quality of
  the water and takes into con-
  sideration the  levels of oil and
  grease, visual clarity, and taste-
  tainting chemicals.

The  information  depicted  in   the
stream quality map is based  on a
comparison of those physical, chem-
ical, and biological data with recom-
mended  Federal  Water  Quality
Criteria.
10

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                          Stream Quality
                            (1972-1978)
  Water Quality Problems

  o     Oxygon
  B     Bacteria
  N     Nutrients
  s     Solids
  M     Toxic motals
  A     Aesthetic deterioration
Wficfc  no 3IIOA3 Jlc ihOAn fcf .1 Mfctcft of fi»cr.
cilhe? the water quality has &cofi liable lor the palt 7
,t-.:-; Of ;).i!.i AOIC inluldcicnt to dotcrrTMnc licndl
— Meets Federal water quality goals

— Moderate water quality; provisionally
     moots Federal water quality goals

— Does not moot Federal water quality goals

— Insufficient data to determine quality

•ffr Water  quality improving
•$• Water  quality deteriorating

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Water Resources
Lakes

Lakes are important water resources
for  recreation,  water  supply,  and
aesthetic appeal. Increases in pollu-
tion from nutrients such as nitrogen
and phosphorus can impair the value
of Nebraska  lakes. Although plant
life is an important part  of a lake's
ecosystem,  an overabundance  of
nutrients will cause  excessive
growth of algae and  larger plants.
Such overgrowth can choke the lake
of needed  oxygen,  decrease  light
penetration,  and be a nuisance to
those using the lake for recreational
or other purposes.

Siltation  and turbidity  from
agricultural runoff, construction ac-
tivity,  and other nonpoint  sources
may also affect light penetration and
contribute to  premature  filling  of
lakes by sedimentation.

Publicly owned lakes with these and
other  water  quality  problems may
receive help through the Clean Lakes
Program.  This program provides
funds to assist the State of Nebraska
in (1) ranking its public lakes, (2) con-
ducting  lake studies,  and (3) restor-
ing and protecting these lakes.

The map shows the principal lakes in
Nebraska — those that have a  sur-
face area greater than 6400 acres and
some smaller lakes that have signifi-
cant recreational  importance,  are
easily accessible to urban areas, or
are used extensively by  the public.
The table shows the level of impair-
ment to principal lakes resulting from
pollution.
Principal Lakes
12

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                  Pollution-Related Use Impairment of Principal Nebraska Lakes
                                                (1980)
         Lake
Branched Oak Reservoir
Gartor'lako
Hatlan County Reservoir
JohnsorvLake
LakO'McGonaughy
Lewis and Glark Lake
•Pawnee-Reservoir
Surface Area,
   acres


    1,800


      300


   13:600


    2.060


   35,700


   33;000



      740
Swimming
Fishing
Boating.
                                                                                            Aesthetics
               I     ]' Low'impalrment      ('      Moderate impairment
                                                    Severe impairment
                                   1 Low-impairment v/iih,periodic moderate impairment

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Water Resources
Fish Kills
Reports indicate that approximately
7000  fish  were  killed  in  seven
separate incidents of water pollution
in Nebraska in 1976. The map shows
the  location, size, and cause of the
1976 kills.

Because reporting is entirely volun-
tary, the information shown probably
represents only a fraction of the kills
that occurred. Numerous small kills
go  unnoticed  or  unreported,  and
some significantly large kills are not
included because information is in-
sufficient to determine  if  the  kills
resulted from pollutants in the water
or from natural  causes.
Reported Pollution-Caused Fish Kills
             (1976)
                                    O 1-100 Fish

                                    O 100-1.000 Fish

                                    • 1.000-10.000 Fish
14

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Ground water
Water  held  in  underground gravel,
sand,  and  silt layers  (aquifers) is
referred to  as groundwater. Surface
water  and  precipitation  trickle
through craeks and pores in the earth
to reach the aquifers. The quality of
groundwater is  important because it
is the  water source for a large seg-
ment of the State's population.  The
contamination  of groundwater sup-
pliies  by   nitrates  and  toxic
substances is receiving increased at-
tention.

Nitrates are known to cause anemic
conditions  in  infants.   Although
nature provides some of the nitrates
in groundwater (through  decaying
organic material), the  amount  of
nitrates can be  increased by modern
agricultural practices requiring irriga-
tion and the use of such fertilizers as
ammonia and  liquid nitrogen, this
results from the application of more
fertilizer than the plant roots can use,
which allows the excess to reach the
groundwater.  ilihe groundwater  in
central Rla'tte Valley, Holt County,
and possibly the 'northwest corner of
the State has high nitrate levels, but
concentrations  vary widely.

Uncontrolled tox-ic chemical disposal
sites are another  possible source of
groundwater contamination. The Re-
source Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976 addresses this problem. It
requires such sites to have an im-
permeable barrier to prevent ground-
water contamination  from the buried
material.
NaturalH-y. occurring  radiation,
selenium, and fluoride released from
underlying rocks have contaminated
groundwater in some areas. Concen-
trations of these contaminants vary
erratically  and  sometimes  reach
levels of concern.

©nee  groundwater  has become
contaminated, purifying it by natural
                                        means is very slow at best. Therefore,
                                        prevention of groundwater pollution
                                        is critical. To this end, the EPA has in-
                                        stituted  the Underground Injection
                                        Program  to  limit the injection of
                                        wastes  underground.  States  may
                                        assume  responsibility  for this pro-
                                        gram.
               Sources and Pathways of Nitrogen to the Aquifer
                                 Precipitation
Root2oneiiiiy
                                     .-.-   •            :
                                                                 • Water Level
Consolidated
  Material
                                                                                                                 15

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Water Resources
Drinking Water

The  average  adult consumes  from
one and a half to five quarts of water
a day. Most people assume the water
they drink is safe, and  it  usually is.
Sometimes, however, it can be con-
taminated by bacteria, metals,  toxic
chemicals, or other pollutants.

At least 4000 documented cases of
waterborne illnesses occur each year
in the  United  States;  the  actual
number is probably much  greater, as
many go unreported. In  addition, the
health effects of long-term, low-level
exposure to contaminated water are
not welt known. Nevertheless, these
also should be of concern to each of
us.
To help fight these health  threats,
Congress (in the Safe Drinking Water
Act) directed EPA to establish drink-
ing water standards for  all public
water supplies having 15 or more ser-
vice connections or regularly serving
25 or more persons. The  pollutants
for which   standards  have  been
established  are briefly  described
below.

Bacteria  —  Coliform bacteria from
human and other animal wastes can
be found in improperly treated drink-
ing water.  These bacteria  may in-
dicate the presence of  other harmful
organisms.  Waterborne  diseases
such as typhoid, cholera,  infectious
hepatitis, and dysentery have been
traced  to  improperly  disinfected
drinking water.

Nitrate —  Drinking  water  having
nitrate levels above the national stan-
dard poses an immediate threat to
children under three months of age.
In some infants, excessive levels of
nitrate have been known to react with
the  hemoglobin in the blood  to pro-
duce an anemic condition commonly
known as "blue baby."

Arsenic  —  This   element   occurs
naturally in the environment. It is also
found in insecticides, foods,  tobac-
co,  shellfish, drinking water, and air.
Consumption  of water  that con-
tinuously exceeds the national stan-
dard can cause fatigue  and loss of
energy. High levels  of arsenic intake
can be fatal.

Barium — This element also  occurs
naturally in  the environment in some
areas, but it is not as widespread as
arsenic. Barium can also enter water
supplies through  industrial  waste
discharges. Although small  doses
are  not harmful,   consumption  of
large quantities is  quite dangerous
and can cause high blood pressure,
nerve damage, and even death.

Cadmium — Only minute amounts of
this element  are found in natural
waters in the United States; however,
improperly treated waste discharges
from electroplating, photography, in-
secticide, and metallurgy  industries
can increase cadmium  levels.  Al-
though most  cadmium enters the
16

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body through cigarette smoking and
food intake, minute quantities have
also been found in  water supplies
having galvanized pipes and fixtures.


Chromium — Cigarettes, foods, and
air are the most common sources of
chromium. High levels of chromium
in drinking water may cause skin and
respiratory ailments. Although some
studies suggest that minute amounts
of chromium  may  be essential  to
humans, this theory has not yet been
proven.
Lead — This metal is found in the air,
in food, and in the pigment of some
older paints.  The lead in drinking
water comes from plumbing, auto ex-
hausts, and  other sources.  When
standards  are  greatly  exceeded,
humans  may  suffer  from nervous
system disorders  or  from brain  or
kidney damage.


Mercury — Mercury  levels in  water
can  be raised above normal by in-
dustrial discharges   and   mercury-
based  pesticides.  A greater  health
risk  results from  eating  fish from
such waters than simply from water-
borne mercury itself, because the ele-
ment becomes concentrated  in the
fish  tissues.  Ingested mercury can
cause  liver,  intestinal, circulatory,
kidney and neurological ailments —
even death. Mercury poisoning can
be acute, as a result of large doses,
or chronic, as a result of  smaller
doses  received  over  an  extended
time.
Selenium  — This material occurs
naturally in soil and  plants and is
found  in  meat and  other foods.
Although selenium is believed  to be
essential in the diet,  indications are
that excessive amounts may be  toxic.
Studies are under way to determine
the amount required  for good  nutri-
tion and that which may be harmful.

Silver — The need to  set a drinking
water standard  for silver arises from
its intentional addition as a disinfec-
tant in some water supplies. Overex-
posure to silver causes discoloration
of the skin and mucous membrane.
When absorbed through the skin or
consumed at high levels, silver can
cause kidney,  liver,  and  spleen
damage.

Pesticides — Each year some of the
millions of pounds of pesticides used
on  croplands,  forests,  lawns, and
gardens in the United States drain off
into  surface waters  or  seep into
underground water supplies. If they
get into drinking water and the  water
is not properly treated, many of them
may  pose  health  problems.  The
pesticides  for which drinking  water
standards have been established are
Endrin, Lindane, Methoxyehlor, Tox-
aphene, 2,4-D, and 2,4,5-TP Silvex.

Radioactivity —  Radiation,  which
results from both natural  and man-
made processes, is of concern be-
cause it is  known to cause cancer
and   genetic  defects  in  humans.
Some water supplies within the State
have  been found to contain  radio-
activity above  the  concern  level.
Radioactivity is discussed further in
the radiation section of this publica-
tion.

Turbidity  — Turbidity  (cloudiness
resulting from minute suspended par-
ticles)  in  drinking  water  interferes
with the  aesthetic  quality  of  the
water.  Excessive turbidity can also
interfere with disinfection and allow
disease-causing organisms  to  sur-
vive. National standards have been
set to correct this problem.
                                                                                                                    17

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Water  Resources
Drinking Water (continued)
The figure shows the percentage of
Nebraska communities  meeting
drinking water standards for each of
these contaminants.
Percentages out of compliance are
based on total number of violations
divided by the number of community
water supplies.
Compliance of Nebraska Community Water Supplies
    With Chemical Drinking Water Standards

                (664 Supplies)
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
Nitrate
Selenium
Silver
Fluoride
All Organic;,
(Including
^^ ^ 2^


































/




















96%










99%





                                                                 90
                       95
100
                                                         Percent in Compliance in 1979
                                             •Based on 451 supplies.
                                             ** Based on 85 supplies.
18

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Fluoride is a naturally occurring ele-
ment that  is  commonly added  to
water supplies to help prevent tooth
decay. The recommended concentra-
tion is  1  part  per  million  (ppm).
Because  too  much  fluoride  can
cause  mottling of teeth, concentra-
tions above 2  ppm are a cause for
concern. The map shows Nebraska
communities   that  have adequate
fluoride in their drinking water.
                                    Communities Receiving Adequately Fluoridated Water
                                                            (1980)
                         O Adjusted Source
                         g) Natural Source
                                              Total Population of State
                                              Population of Communities With
                                                Adequate Fluoride*

                                                   Natural
                                                   Adjusted

                                              •AOoqutlo lluoilda mwns wjjutled to optimum
                                              (1,0 ppm) or has above 0.7 ppm ruluinl lluoildo.
    1,485,333
 49,176  (3%)
666.Z19 (45%)

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Water Resources
Wetland Areas
Wetlands are lowland areas, such as
marshes  or  swamps,  that  are
saturated with moisture all or part of
the  year. These  lands  represent
unique ecosystems of major impor-
tance.  Nebraska wetlands provide
unique recreational areas, which sup-
port  hunting and fishing, are high in
aesthetic  value,  and  contain
irreplaceable plant  and  animal  life
that  make them especially valuable
for  educational  and  scientific
studies.

Some other roles and functions of
wetlands are often not appreciated.
For  example,  these   areas  can
recharge groundwater supplies and
help  to  maintain  flow  during  dry
periods. The dense vegetation, acting
as a  filter, traps pollutants and helps
to maintain water quality  in nearby
streams and lakes. By storing flood-
waters  and excess  runoff, the  wet-
lands can serve as buffer zones and
reduce  erosion  by  dissipating the
energy of floodwaters. They also can
be a source of harvestable timber and
crops.

As shown  on  the map,  the primary
zones in Nebraska where the remain-
ing  wetlands are located are (1) the
Sandhills and (2) the prairie potholes
of the Rainwater Basin. The approx-
imately 188,000 acres of wetlands re-
maining in 1972 represent a decrease
of 32 percent from those existing dur-
ing  a  1960  survey. These  losses
resulted  mainly  from  agricultural
drainage and drawdown by irrigation
systems.  A  new inventory of the
wetlands  in  Nebraska  is  being
prepared  and  should be completed
by mid-1980.
                                  Wetland Acreage Remaining in Nebraska
                                                                  c
                                                                  to
                                                                  o
                              250
                                                                     200
                                                                     150
                                                                     100
                                                                      50
                                                                                   1960
                                                       1972
20

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Zones in Which Remaining Wetlands Are Located
                                                                                  Omaha
                     Sandhill Marshes
                      JPrair
                      (Pair
(Rainwater Basin)
                         Other Wetlands


                         Riverine Wetlands

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Air Quality
Air Pollutants and Standards
The objective of the EPA's air pollu-
tion control program is to meet the re-
quirements of the Federal Clean Air
Act by achieving and maintaining Na-
tional Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) by 1983. Toward this  goal,
the EPA provides research on health
effects,   offers  the  State  both
technical  and financial assistance,
and  sets  standards  for  specific
sources.

The primary concern is the effect of
air quality on  public health. Com-
monly known effects of air pollution
are  respiratory  aggravation   and
cardiovascular  stress.  Air pollution
also  threatens crops, forests,  fish,
lake  ecosystems,  and  property
values.  These  are referred to as
public welfare considerations.

The many sources of air pollution
range from natural sources, such as
dust,  to  the  daily  emission of
thousands of tons of pollutants from
industrial   smokestacks   and
automobile exhausts.
State Implementation Plans

The EPA required that all states have
an  approved State  Implementation
Plan (SIP) by 1972. The plans were to
detail the state's program for achiev-
ing and maintaining the National Am-
bient Air  Quality Standards  and  the
regulatory mechanisms for  accom-
plishing that goal. When monitoring
shows that a particular pollutant ex-
ceeds standards, an inadequacy in
the original SIP is indicated. The area
where  this  occurs is declared  a
nonattainment area.  On  a relative
basis, Nebraska's air quality is good
(as illustrated by the  few areas of
nonattainment on the accompanying
nonattainment maps.)

Revisions to the SIP must  be submit-
ted to EPA for  the  nonattainment
area and  pollutant standard  being
violated.  The  revised  SIP must  in-
dicate  additional  controls for  ex-
isting and new sources and the sup-
porting regulatory mechanisms. As
part  of the control program, all ex-
isting  point  sources must  apply
Reasonably  Available  Control
Technology. All  new  point sources
must  apply   the  more   stringent
Lowest  Achievable Emission Rate
control.

Further, in the interim period before
the SIP revision is approved by EPA,
no new point sources can be built
unless emissions from other sources
are correspondingly reduced. After
the SIP is approved, every new point
source  must  be evaluated   to
demonstrate that its proposed emis-
sions will not cause a violation of the
applicable air quality standard.

Standards have been  written for six
criteria pollutants: Total  suspended
partieulates   (TSP),  ozone, carbon
monoxide (CO), sulfur  dioxide (SOJ,
lead  (Pb), and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Primary standards are written to pro-
tect  public health, whereas  secon-
dary  standards are written to protect
public welfare.
The  State  determines compliance
with National  Ambient Air Quality
Standards (by monitoring air quality)
and acts as the primary enforcement
agent. The Lincoln-Lancaster County
Health  Department,  the  Omaha
Public  Safety  Department, and  the
Omaha-Douglas  County  Health
Department assist the State in these
tasks.

Population Exposure Where Ambient Air
    Health Standards Are Exceeded
            in Nebraska
Population
Exposed
390.076
Omaha and
Cass Co.
530,500
Omaha and
Lincoln
Paniculate*


Carbon Monoxide
^

J
w ^\

J
        Total State Population
             1.485,333
In  addition to  emissions of the six
criteria pollutants for which ambient
standards have been established, the
EPA  also regulates  emissions  of a
special  group  of  hazardous  air
pollutants  —  asbestos,  vinyl
chloride,   mercury,  benzene,
beryllium,  and  radioactive particles.
All of  these have been shown  to
cause cancer in  humans. The three
sludge incinerators in  Nebraska are
all in compliance with the National
Emission Standards for Hazardous
Air Pollutants.
22

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  Number of Days National Total Suspended
         Participate Standards Were
        Exceeded in Nebraska in 1978*
Lincoln

Omaha
       0   2   4   6   8   10  12  14  16  18  20
Number of Days Carbon Monoxide Standards
     Were Exceeded in Nebraska in 1978 *
Lincoln
Omaha
       0   2   4   6   8   10  12  14  16  18  20


       I   | Health standard exceeded
       [   I Alert level exceeded
 "Note: Because consideration must be given to natural
       meteorological events, exceeding Ambient Air
       Quality Standards for one day during a single
       year does not constitute a violation; the
       standard must be exceeded at  least two days
       in a single year to be considered a violation.

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Air Quality	
Air Pollutants and Standards (continued)
                Nonattainment Areas for
           Total Suspended Particulates (TSP)
                       (1980)
                                  Nonattainment Areas for
                                   Carbon Monoxide (CO)
                                          (1980)
                                        Par! ol county violates primary (public health) standards.
                                        Entire county violates primary standard.
Total Suspended
Particulates (TSP)

Omaha and Cass County are nonat-
tainment  areas for total suspended
particulates.

The term  TSP refers to all the solid
material floating in the air, such as
dust, soot, and fly ash. Agricultural
activities,  construction   sites,  un-
paved  roads,  grain  handling,
automobile exhausts, and coal com-
bustion are all sources  of TSP. All
TSP affects the respiratory system,

24
but the  smallest particles are the
most  harmful.  In  addition,  toxic
materials such  as  pesticides  and
lead are  sometimes carried by these
suspended particles.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Lincoln and  Omaha are  nonattain-
ment areas for carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide, a toxic byproduct
of incomplete combustion  (auto-
mobile exhausts  are  the  major
source), reduces the amount of ox-
ygen available  to lung tissues, im-
pairs  visual  perception,  decreases
alertness,  and in high  concen-
trations, can be fatal.

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The entire State of  Nebraska meets
the national standards for the other
criteria pollutants, with the exception
of Omaha, which  exceeds  the  na-
tional standard for  lead  emissions.
The  other criteria  pollutants  are
briefly described below.

Lead

The metal lead (Pb) reaches  the air
primarily through the  use of  leaded
gasoline. Other sources include lead
and  zinc mining   and   processing
sites, lead recovery plants, battery
manufacturing facilities, and certain
industrial ehemieal  processing fac-
tories. Lead is particularly harmful to
the soft tissues  of the body,  the
reproductive system, and the nervous
system. It also can cause anemia and
irreversible brain damage.

Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur dioxide (SO,) results from the
combustion of sulfur-containing coal
and oil, the smelting  of  metal ores,
the  refining  of oil,  and other  in-
dustrial  processes. This compound
reacts readily with other atmospheric
pollutants to  form  a  group  of
substances  called  sulfates, which
aggravate heart disease and such
respiratory ailments  as  bronchitis,
emphysema,   and  asthma.  Sulfur
dioxide also reacts  with moisture to
produce acid rain,  a problem affec-
ting the delicate ecosystems of lakes
and forests.
Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced
by fuel  combustion and come from
both stationary and mobile sources.
Coal- and  oil-fired  furnaces  and
automobiles  are  major   sources.
These compounds react with hydro-
carbons in the presence of sunlight
and produce ozone. They also cause
acid rain.  Nitrogen dioxide (NO,), a
form of  NOx, can affect lung tissue,
reduce  resistance to disease, con-
tribute to bronchitis and pneumonia,
and  aggravate  chronic   lung
disorders.

Ozone

Ozone  is   a  major  component of
photochemical smog formed  by a
series of chemical reactions that oc-
cur when hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxides  are   exposed  to  sunlight.
Hydrocarbons  include  the  fumes
from  any of  numerous  oil-derived
liquids (for example, gasoline, kero-
sene, diesel fuels, lacquers, and thin-
ners). The most common sources of
airborne  hydrocarbons  are  auto-
mobiles,  refineries,  fuel   transfer
facilities,  painting  operations, fuel
combustion  in stationary  sources,
and nature itself. Ozone, which is a
severe  irritant  to mucous  mem-
branes,  aggravates respiratory dis-
orders, reduces lung function, and in-
creases susceptibility to bacterial in-
fection.
                                                                                                                   25

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Air Quality
Air Pollutants and Standards (continued)
Emissions
No SIP revisions are required in areas
where  monitoring  indicates  com-
pliance with  NAAQS.  Existing
sources, however,  must meet  ap-
plicable State and local  regulations,
and new sources may also be subject
to more stringent regulations. Some
new  source categories  must  meet
New Source Performance Standards.
Major new sources must meet Pre-
vention of Significant Deterioration
regulations.

Of  the  419  existing  major  point
sources in Nebraska, 415 sources are
in compliance with applicable emis-
sion  regulations.
                                                               Ranges in color keys
                                                              indicate 1000's tons/yr.
                                                               Participate Emissions

                                                            D«11    D 11-20    D 21-50
26

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           SOj Emissions
D«10    O 10-50   D 51-100    S»100
                                                             Hydrocarbon Emissions
                                                     Q«10     D 10-20     D 21-50     S»50
D«20
CO Emissions
20-75    D 76-140   13 »140
D<5
                                                                             NO, Emissions
                                                                           D 5-40      D 41-60
D >60
                                                                                                               27

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Solid Waste
Disposal and  Recovery

Besides the well-known household
garbage, solid  waste includes sueh
material as waste from agricultural,
industrial,  and  mining  activities;
sludges from water and air pollution
control  facilities;  demolition
material;  and abandoned cars. Na-
tional statistics show that 87 percent
of the solid  waste in  the  United
States is  produced by  agricultural
and mining activities, 9 percent by in-
dustrial activities, and 4 percent by
residential  and  commercial ac-
tivities. The  amount of solid waste
constantly increases,  and  its com-
position changes with the Nation's
population growth and  technological
advancement.

Increases in solid waste result in the
littering of city streets, country road-
sides, and  any  available  open
spaces. Such littering diminishes our
enjoyment of the environment and
creates an expensive cleanup prob-
lem.

The   most fundamental  ways  to
lessen environmental  damage  from
solid  waste are (1)to  generate less
waste or  (2) to  recover and  reuse
valuable  resources  from  those
wastes. Both approaches would not
only   reduce degradation,  but  save
energy and materials as well.

Generation  of   solid  waste by
municipalities is high — about 1300
pounds per person per year; the rate
of resource recovery is  low — about 7
percent.  The  rising cost of  land
disposal, however, is likely to make
resource  recovery and conservation
increasingly more attractive.

Passage  of the Resource Conserva-
tion and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1976
accelerated solid waste management
programs at all levels of government.
Uncontrolled open dumps and open
burning of solid waste will soon be a
thing of the past. Sanitary landfills
are the most common replacement
for open  dumps  in  solid  waste
management programs. The design
of these  landfills is  such that solid
waste can be buried in a manner effi-
cient enough to protect both ground-
water and surface water. The map in-
dicates the approved sanitary land-
fills in Nebraska.

Proper  operation  of  the  landfills is
essential to adequate control  of the
waste  placed there.  Also,  every
Nebraska citizen must recognize his
or her role in environmental protec-
tion by assuring that any household
waste, dead animals, pesticide con-
tainers, and the like are disposed of
properly.
28

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                              Licensed Solid Waste Disposal Facilities
                                              (1980)
O  Refuse/garbage

O  Demolition

O  Industrial

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Hazardous Materials
Hazardous Waste
The  use  of  large  quantities  of
chemicals has become a way of life
in our society. The list of more than
4,000,000 recognized chemical com-
pounds grows at the rate of 6,000 per
week.

Many once believed thai the Midwest
would  never have to worry about
health  hazards associated with im-
proper handling of chemicals such as
those experienced in the East — for
example,  the  nationally publicized
Love Canal incident in New York. The
problem was brought close to home
last year, however, when cattle on a
Kansas  farm became contaminated
with PCBs because waste oil con-
taining these  hazardous chemicals
was used in animal baekrubbers. The
waste oil (which came from electrical
transformers)  had  been  purchased
from a salvage yard in 1972, before
the effects  of PCBs were  widely
known. Fifty-four  head of cattle died,
and before the cause of death was
determined,  hides, tallow, and meat
for dog food had  been  shipped to
several states  and had to be traced
and  properly disposed  of. Another
112 head had to be killed and buried
in an  approved   hazardous  waste
disposal site. Portions of the soil in
the feedlot were  also contaminated
and had to be removed and disposed
of properly.

In the  40  years preceding  the
passage of the Resource  Conserva-
tion  and Recovery Act  (RCRA)  in
1976,  the  disposal  of  hazardous
wastes was largely unregulated. The
act  mandated  a comprehensive
"cradle to grave"  hazardous waste
management program. Such proper
environmental control will cost more,
but eliminate the astronomical costs
of correcting poor disposal practices.
For  example,  a   1979  EPA  study
reported that cleaning up abandoned
and  improperly operated  hazardous
waste sites could  cost as much as
$44 billion, of which only a portion
would likely be paid by the owners of
the sites.

The RCRA plan of attack consists of
two  phases.  The  first  provides  a
system  for  following   hazardous
waste from its point of origin to its
final  disposal. This system includes:

 •Identifying hazardous waste.

 •Setting standards for producers
  and  shippers   of  hazardous
  waste.
 • Specifying performance, design,
  and operating requirements for
  facilities  that  treat, store,  or
  dispose of hazardous waste.
 • Providing a system for issuing
  permits to such facilities.
 • Furnishing  guidelines  that
  outline conditions under which
  state   governments  can  be
  authorized to carry out their own
  programs for hazardous waste
  management.

The second phase of the program en-
tails a comprehensive effort to iden-
tify dangerous abandoned or uncon-
trolled  dump  sites.  If  danger  to
human health and the environment is
deemed "imminent and substantial,"
the owner can be forced to clean up
the site. Unfortunately, many of the
owners cannot be found  or are not
financially able to correct the prob-
lem.
30

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Hazardous  Spills
Most environmental problems do not
require immediate action, but the ac-
cidental release of oil or some haz-
ardous  material can  constitute an
emergency condition. Such incidents
necessitate immediate action to pro-
tect public health  and to minimize
damage to natural resources.

In the event of such emergencies, a
response team must be prepared to
travel to the area, identify the nature
and source of the substance spilled,
and take direct action to contain the
spill. Cleanup of the spilled material
can then begin, and if  necessary, ap-
propriate legal action can be taken.

This type of response is complex and
expensive. The workers must  wear
protective equipment  and take the
necessary  precautionary measures
until such time as  the nature of the
chemical  involved  has been deter-
mined.  Few safe  sites are readily
available for disposal of hazardous
materials, and such materials  often
must be transported a great distance
for proper long-term disposal.

The charts show the number of  spills
by type  of material and environment
affected for the two-year period from
October 1977 to September 1979.
          Percent of Total Number of Spills by Type* in Nebraska
                                                            1% Acid
                                                            1% Pesticide
                                                               4%
                                                            Miscellaneous
Percent of Total Petroleum Spills
    by Environment Affected*
Percent of Total Nonpetroleum Spills
     by Environment Affected *
                                                            •Based on EPA's Surveillance and Analysis Division
                                                             Spill Investigation Reports (October 1977-79).

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Pesticides
Use and Misuse
The  use of  insecticides and  her-
bicides is common and beneficial on
farms, in the home and garden, and in
commercial  and  institutional estab-
lishments.  Besides  the  increased
crop  production  made  possible by
the extensive agricultural use of pes-
ticides, another benefit derived from
the use of pesticides is the control of
such pests as rodents, flies, roaches,
and other insects.

Because of the manner in which they
provide  these benefits, pesticides
must  be considered poisons, and as
such, they can be dangerous not only
to the people who apply them, but
also to those who may be acciden-
tally exposed. Harm can result from
inhaling the pesticide or from absorb-
ing it through the skin. Pesticides
can also contaminate food crops and
harm  the people who consume them.
Many pesticides  Kill plants, birds,
animals, and such beneficial insects
as  honeybees,  along with the in-
tended pests. They can also become
concentrated in fish and wildlife and
pose a threat to those who eat them.
For these reasons, the manufacture,
sale,  and use of  these compounds
are regulated by the government.

More  than  1,400  chemicals are in-
cluded in the approximately 40,000
pesticide products  registered  with
the EPA. As of  1980,  49  of these
chemicals  {involving  about  1,700
products) have been restricted to cer-
tain   uses,  and  the  use  of  44
pesticides  has  been  limited,
suspended, or banned. Persons who
wish to apply restricted-use products
32
must become certified as applicators
and,  in some cases, are required to
attend training courses  prior to cer-
tification. In Nebraska, the EPA has
certified  44,666  private  and 5,457
commercial applicators.
The charts show the uses and types
of pesticides in Nebraska, based on a
1974 survey.

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                                 Pesticide Usage in Nebraska
                                            (1974)
Uses
                          05% Industry

                           0.8% Government
Types
                      0.2% Nematocides

                       0.8% Fungicides
                                                                    61% Herbicides
                        Total 1974 Pesticide Usage = 28,612,000 pounds
                                                                                                            33

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Radiation	

Environmental Exposure

Radiation results from the breakup of
an atomic  nucleus.  Two types are
emitted during the breakup: ionizing
radiation  (a  stream of  nuclear
fragments) and nonionizing radiation
(a high-energy burst of X rays). When
radiation passes through living cells,
it disturbs essential  chemical mole-
cules. Such disturbance can result in
death of the cell, cancer, or a genetic
defect. Scientists are currently un-
sure whether or not there is a safe
level of radiation — one at  which
these effects are not produced.

Some radiation in the environment is
due to natural causes; some results
from   human  activities.  Natural
radioactivity (known  as cosmic rays)
continuously bombards Earth  from
space, and  the planet itself contains
radioactive   uranium, thorium,  and
potassium.   Because  this  natural
radioactivity is in the air we breathe,
the water we drink, and the foods we
eat,  we all  have  some amount of
radioactivity within us.

Man adds to radiation exposure in
various ways: dental and medical X
rays,   the  production of  fallout
through atmospheric tests of nuclear
weapons, the  combustion  of  coal
(which contains several radioactive
elements),   and  the  creation  of
radioactive  materials during nuclear
energy production.
34
Radiation Exposure From Environmental Sources

-------
        Combined Terrestrial and Cosmic Radiation Exposure by State
D 40-50 Millirems'  D 61-70 Millirems
        Per Year

D 51-60 Millirems
        Per Year
      Per Year

71-80 Millirems
      Per Year
•Note: A millirem is one-thousandth of a rem. which is
     a unit ot radiation exposure to the human body.
     For example, a chest Xray equals about SO miliirems
     per hour, a dental Xray about 20 miliirems per hour.
     and viewing color television about 2 miliirems per hour
     The lethal dosage is about 500.000 miliirems.
          I 81-90 Millirems
                 Per Year

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Noise
Effects and Controls
Everyone is exposed to noise of vary-
ing intensities  and from many dif-
ferent sources  every day.  Constant
exposure to loud noise can be harm-
ful.

Noise-induced hearing  loss  is  par-
ticularly recognized in employees of
highly  mechanized industries  and
other  occupations  involving  ex-
posure  to loud  noise.  Excessive
levels  of  noise  appear to  cause
stress, which may in  turn increase
susceptibility to disease and infec-
tion,  notably  heart  disease  and
ulcers.  An estimated  14.7  million
workers are  exposed  to an 8-hour
average sound level of 75 decibels, at
which   there  is   risk   of  hearing
damage.

The EPA is in the  process of  estab-
lishing  standards  that  require the
reduction of noise in new production
of portable air compressors, medium-
and heavy-duty  trucks, earth-moving
machinery,  buses, truck-mounted
solid  waste   compactors,  motor-
cycles,  jack-hammers,  and  lawn-
mowers.  As  older  equipment is
replaced with products  conforming
with the standards, a gradual  reduc-
tion  in  environmental  noise  levels
will occur. Other EPA activity centers
around  the development of regula-
tions  requiring  equipment  to  be
labeled  so that prospective buyers
are aware of  the  level of noise the
product  emits.
36
The intensity of a sound is measured
on the decibel (dB) scale,  ranging
from 0 to 140.  An increase of 10 on
this  scale represents  a tenfold in-
crease in intensity. The doubling of
intensity  of  a  70-dB  sound, for in-
stance, results in an exposure to 73
dB. Most noise ordinances  are not
based on actual measurements, but
consider sound a problem only when
it becomes a "nuisance."
  Nebraska Population Protected
 by Enforceable Noise Ordinances
                                                 Total State Population:
                                                      1,463,493

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           Typical  Exposure Levels
                   (in decibels)
 Jet Takeoff
(100 m away)
   Street
   Traffic
   Woods
                        -140
                   130-
110
                   90-
                   75
                   70
                   50-
                   30 —
                   10 —
                        -100
                        -80
                                     Live Concert
               Possibility of noise-induced
                   hearing damage
                (after 8-hour exposure)
                        -60
      -40
                        — 20
                  Conversation
                         _ Threshold
                         ' of Hearing
      The measure of energy per area
      is presented in decibels. An
      increase from 20 to 30 or 90  to
      100 represents a tenfold increase
      in energy.
                                                                       37

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The EPA Mission
The Environmental Protection Agen-
cy serves as the advocate for a live-
able environment  in a  number of
ways.  First  and  foremost,  it  is a
regulatory agency  responsible  for
setting and enforcing standards. The
EPA  is  currently  engaged  in  a
massive effort to  restore America's
waters, to reduce air pollution, and to
find  a comprehensive approach to
other environmental problems asso-
ciated with pesticides use, radiation,
solid and hazardous waste disposal,
mechanically generated  noise, and
toxic   substances.  As  a  research
body, the EPA monitors and analyzes
the environment and conducts scien-
tific  studies. The agency furnishes
technical and scientific  information
to the public, provides  training to
develop the environmental skills that
the  Nation needs,  and  offers
technical  and financial  assistance
for environmental protection efforts
at all  levels of government.
Nebraska Environmental
Agencies

The  Nebraska  Department of  En-
vironmental  Control  is responsible
for air quality, water quality, and the
disposal  of solid  and hazardous
wastes. The Department of  Health is
responsible for the water supply and
radiation programs. The Department
of  Agriculture  administers  the
pesticide registration program.  (The
EPA is responsible for certification of
pesticide applicators  and  enforce-
ment of applicable standards.)
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For Further Information
If you would like additional information about specific en-
vironmental programs in which EPA is involved, please con-
tact EPA Region VII, Public Affairs Office, 324 E. 11th St.,
Kansas City, M© 64106, or call (800) 821-3714. This office
maintains a supply of EPA publications that relate to the
various programs mentioned in this document, operates an
informal speaker's bureau, and coordinates distribution of
environmental films (all free of charge to the public). If you
encounter an environmental problem, report it first to your
local and then to your state pollution control agency.

EPA Region VII program numbers:
Action Line	(800) 821-3714
Air Pollution Programs	(816) 374-3791
Hazardous Wastes Program	(816) 374-3307
Oil and Chemical Spills
  Region VII Emergency Response Center .. .(816) 374-3778
  National Emergency Response Genter	(800) 424-8802
Pesticides Program 	(816) 374-3036
  Pesticides Poisoning Emergency	(800) 424-9300
Radiation Program	(816) 374-6621
Resource Recovery Program	(816) 374-6532
Solid Wastes Program	(816) 374-6532
Toxic Substances Program	(816) 374-3036
Wastewater Treatment	(816) 374-2725
Water Supply	(816)374-5429
Wetlands	(816) 374-2921
In addition to the U.S. EPA, several State agencies assist
residents with their environmental questions and problems.
In Nebraska, these agencies are:
Department of Environmental Control 	(402) 471-2186
  Air Pollution Control
  Solid and (Hazardous Waste Management
  Water Pollution Control
  Water Quality Planning
  Oil and Chemical Spills
Department of Health
  Radiation
  Water Supply
Department of Agriculture
  Pesticides
(402)471-2133
(402)471-2341
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