What's Hot

    Recycling costs rising for Lenawee County – The Daily Telegram

    February 4, 2023

    A Giant Balloon Was Spotted in Montana. It’s All Anyone Can Talk About. – The New York Times

    February 3, 2023

    Will Texans’ car insurance premiums increase after ice storm? – AOL

    February 3, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    The Green Choice
    Subscribe
    • DEBRIS CLEANUP
    • DUMPSTER RENTAL
    • JUNK PICKUP
    • JUNK REMOVAL
    • ENVIRONMENTAL
    • RECYCLING
    The Green Choice
    Home»ENVIRONMENTAL»State Environmental Trust gets earful about high number of disqualified grants
    ENVIRONMENTAL

    State Environmental Trust gets earful about high number of disqualified grants

    adminBy adminOctober 25, 2022Updated:October 26, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    LINCOLN — The state commission that subsidizes environmental projects was met with harsh criticism after seeking comment on Tuesday.

    Three witnesses in a “listening session” said the Nebraska Environmental Trust disqualified more grant applicants than usual and generally “protected, enhanced, and restored Nebraska’s natural environment.” He lashed out at him for deviating from his mission. “

    Founded 30 years ago, the agency uses approximately $20 million annually in state lottery proceeds to fund environmental, recycling and conservation projects.

    “The promise made to the people of Nebraska was to help the environment,” said Lincoln’s attorney Laurie Benson. “But there seems to be a hostility towards funding environmental projects, and even funding the environment in general.”

    ‘sad’

    “It’s sad,” Benson added.

    Karl Elmsmauser, executive director of the trust, said Tuesday’s session aims to gather ideas on whether the rules and regulations governing the body known as Title 137 should be changed. It said it was not intended to provide a response to comments or criticism.

    Phone and email messages left for Omaha attorney Mark Kandall, who chairs the Environmental Trust Commission, went unanswered Tuesday afternoon.

    One of the 14 trust board members attended the session. Lincoln’s Jeff Kangar asked whether “public access” was an important issue when considering whether the Trust would give funding for the Conservation Easement.

    Trout fishing easement

    Benson said that could be the case, depending on the nature of the land being preserved. It is “a mystery to me” why the trust rejected a recent grant for a conservation easement to protect the Pine Ridge ranch, she added.

    The Alliance Recycling Center was one of the long-time recipients of a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant deemed ineligible last year. At one point he employed 11 workers and processed about £700,000 a year. (Provided by Alliance Recycling Center)

    Tuesday’s complaint appeared to be the latest complaint about the trust, which two years ago its board opted to refund a handful of grants for conservation projects and instead put ethanol blender pumps at gas stations. It all started when we sent $1.5 million to fund the establishment of the

    A lawsuit then ensued and the Trust’s oversight group was formed. A year ago, further criticism came after several previous recipients of the Trust’s grants, including recycling businesses, were deemed ineligible.

    Governor Pete Ricketts, who has appointed nine of the Trust Board’s 14 members and elected four of its five directors, defended their actions, citing the importance of ethanol to the state’s economy. Did. Critics argue that subsidy decisions are now guided by politics and benefits to farmer groups rather than environmental benefits.

    46% rejection rate

    Among the complaints filed by three witnesses on Tuesday:

    • The Trust disqualifies a significant number of grant applications even before they are scored on several criteria, including environmental and public interest, for approval. 40 were recommended for disqualification by the grant review board. This includes grants for recycling programs and swamp conservation for waterfowl, as the examiners learned. Last year, 36 out of 118 grant applications were considered ineligible, with a rejection rate of 30% compared to a rejection rate of 46% this year. Prior to 2021, fewer than a handful of grants were rejected as ineligible each year. “It seems really weird,” said Cortland’s Ann DeVries. DeVries, a mechanical engineer, has spent the past 15 years working as a volunteer technical reviewer on grant applications to determine the feasibility of projects for the Trust. She said she wrote one poorly written grant application this year, but it was her first in 10 years.
    • “Climate change” is not included in the criteria considered when awarding grants. “This is a major environmental problem of our time,” Benson said, suggesting that projects that address the problem should be given higher recognition.
    • The Trust no longer awards all of the roughly $20 million it makes annually from state lotteries, withholding about $3 million last year. In the past, less than $200,000 was paid out annually. Lincoln’s Rob Schubach wonders if the trust is “mousetrapping” funds for upcoming mega-projects, such as a proposed 4,000-acre recreational lake between Omaha and Lincoln. He called the lake a “farce” and a “lake booze cruise.”
    • The general public received notice of the first listening session at Lincoln a few days ago. Short notice that the examiner received her release to the press on Friday raised the suspicion that public opinion doesn’t matter all that much.

    public hearing required

    Six people attended the listening session in Lincoln on Tuesday, and three testified. Elsewhere he has three listening sessions scheduled.

    Trust officials stressed that if the trust board recommends rule changes, they will be subject to public hearings and people will have another chance to testify.

    Elmshauser said comments provided on Tuesday and other listening sessions will be considered by the trust board in deciding whether changes to Title 137 are necessary.

    Consideration of potential changes began in May when the trust’s board of directors appointed a committee to consider the amendments.

    At the time, the Board identified 11 concerns about current regulatory clarity, including the implications of subsidy eligibility requirements related to cost benefits, environmental and economic impacts, and “private interests.”



    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleEnvironmental science center to host ‘Halloween Haunted trail’
    Next Article Project to clear Tweed River of flood debris wraps up
    admin
    • Website

    Related Posts

    2022 California Environmental Quality Act Legislation

    January 6, 2023

    Environmental groups critical of state response to Moody landfill fire burning 40 days – Alabama's News Leader

    January 6, 2023

    Utah kids challenge decision to dismiss their environmental lawsuit against state

    January 5, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Top Posts

    10 Trends From Year 2020 That Predict Business Apps Popularity

    January 20, 2021

    Shipping Lines Continue to Increase Fees, Firms Face More Difficulties

    January 15, 2021

    Qatar Airways Helps Bring Tens of Thousands of Seafarers

    January 15, 2021

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis.

    Advertisement
    Demo

    THIS WEBSITE PROVIDES THE LATEST NEWS ON THE JUNK REMOVAL. KEEP SUPPORTING US WITH THE LATEST NEWS AND WE WILL PROVIDE THE BEST OF OUR TO MAKE YOU UPDATED ALL AROUND THE WORLD NEWS.
    Keep Sporting US.

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube
    Top Insights

    JX Metals sets sights on 50% recycled metals • Recycling International

    November 28, 2022

    LAW ENFORCEMENT CALLS for Feb 2, 2023 | Price County Review – Ashland Daily Press

    February 2, 2023

    Neighborhood Expert: Junk Haul and Shred Event — Save the date!

    January 17, 2023
    Get Informed

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.
    • Home
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • DMCA
    • Privacy Policy

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.