Natura Step Closer to Expansion, Fremont, Nebraska

The final costs of lead remediation at the former Izaak Walton shooting range added up to $1.402 million — nearly $1 million below the $2.36 million clean plan the state approved for the city of Fremont, Administrative Services Director Jan Rise reported.

The city council on Tuesday officially accepted a “no further action” letter from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, clearing the way for the city to sell to Natura Pet Products the 23-acre site south of Natura, and an additional 25 acres north of Natura, for future development.

Natura originally signed a $1.76 million purchase agreement for the land, but during negotiations for the purchase, all parties agreed that final costs would be related to actual lead cleanup costs, a staff report prepared by City Attorney Paul Payne stated.

With cleanup costs in well below what was estimated, the council on Tuesday gave Natura a $948,394 credit, making the final purchase price $811,605.

Cleanup costs are being paid with the revenue from the sale of the land, a $200,000 Brownfields grant the city received, approximately $235,000 in city economic enhancement and special projects funds and through a private donation.