By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

"At JBS, we believe that good environmental stewardship is an important piece of all of our operations," said JBS spokeswoman Tamara Smid in the corporation's Greeley, Colo., office. "This matter is no exception. It is being taken very seriously and given our full attention."

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) had cited JBS four times in the last nine months and also cited the city's wastewater treatment plant the same number of times for discharge overloads. The last violation notice was sent on March 5.

The city self-reported another violation on Friday and Saturday, when it said JBS overloaded the city's wastewater system with oil, grease and oxygen-depleted water.

A substantial fish kill in the wastewater treatment plant outfall ditch, the Wood River and Platte River followed late Saturday. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reported more than 10,600 fish across 24 miles of river were killed.

Mayor Margaret Hornady said this continued "slamming" of the city's wastewater treatment plant by the city's largest customer JBS Swift cannot continue.

She even threatened to quit accepting Swift discharges as a last resort.

Smid said JBS Swift is taking action to correct the problem.

"From the beginning of the situation, we've continued to be in close contact with the city and other regulatory officials. In order to promptly address the situation, we have contacted a third-party environmental engineering firm Woodward and Curran," Smid said. "They are a lead expert in the field and have operations across the U.S.

"They are working on the matter and will be on site within 24 hours," Smid said Wednesday afternoon. "They are working on the matter. They are evaluating."

Smid was unsure what part of the Grand Island JBS Swift plant at 555 S. Stuhr Road the consultants would be focused on or evaluating.

Local Swift officials had previously reported problems with the plant's pre-treatment lagoon to DEQ officials.

"We anticipate the matter will be resolved quickly and efficiently," Smid said on Wednesday.

Smid could not identify whether the resolution would be handled through engineering issues or whether production reductions something also suggested by the mayor might be implemented.

"That's all the information we have at this time," Smid said. "We don't have any other comment because we don't know any other details as far as the situation."

Meanwhile, management of the wastewater treatment plant has been assumed by Grand Island Public Works Director Steve Riehle.

As public works director, Riehle had always overseen the wastewater division, but it had been under the day-to-day operation of Wastewater Superintendent Ben Thayer.

Thayer left city employment on March 20, according to Public Information Officer Wendy Meyer-Jerke. City Human Resources Director Brenda Sutherland, however, had stated on March 25 that Thayer was "still currently employed with the city."

Meyer-Jerke said on Wednesday that the discrepancy in Thayer's departure date was due to paperwork not having been finalized.

When contacted at home on Wednesday, Thayer said he "retired." He said his "last day was the 31st."

Thayer worked for the city for 39 years. He was hired in 1969 as an engineer I, was promoted to engineer II in 1973 and promoted to engineer III in 1974.

Thayer was named assistant city engineer in 1985 and assumed the title of wastewater engineer and operations superintendent in 1990.

Meyer-Jerke said city administration is currently reviewing the process for filling Thayer's position.