Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

EPD Main Office

Where Mother Earth Matters

The Mission of the Winnebago Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is to encourage, educate, and assist in protecting human health and the environment. The EPD works collaboratively with federal, state, and local stakeholders to identify environmental concerns with the natural environment to protect human health and the ecosystems of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Reservation.

The Winnebago Environmental Protection Department has been serving the Tribe since 2000. The EPD’s efforts to reduce environmental risk to the natural resources are based on the best available scientific information. Efforts are made to protect public health and the environment, by raising a conscious need to reduce air pollution, reducing recyclable materials entering the waste stream, and prevent hazardous materials from exposing people and the land to contaminants. Through community outreach and educational activities, the EPD provides inspiration to take action for a healthy environment.

Earth Day is April 22, 2020 In an effort to celebrate our Earth we’ve compiled a small list that each of us can do to help reduce our carbon footprint. These small steps can help reduce a big footprint.

  • Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with efficient CFLs or LEDs. Reduce your carbon footprint by 450 pounds a year.
  • Carpool, ride your bike, use public transportation or drive an electric or hybrid car. Reduce your carbon footprint by one pound for every mile you do not drive.
  • Keep your tires properly inflated and get better gas mileage. Reduce your carbon footprint 20 pounds for each gallon of gas saved.
  • Stop using disposable plastics, especially single-use plastics like bottles, bags and straws. Use reusable bottles for water, and reusable mugs for coffee.
  • Use cloth towels instead of paper ones.
  • Read documents online instead of printing them.
  • Buy local food to reduce the distance from farm to fork. Buy straight from the farm, frequent your local farmers’ market, or join a local food co-op.
  • Turn off and unplug electronics you’re not using. This includes turning off your computer at night.
  • Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer to reduce your carbon footprint by 2,000 pounds.
  • Lower the temperature on your water heater.

Physical Resources Director:
Joseph Painter - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Office: (402) 878-2272 Ext. 2650
Cell: (712) 259-2835

EPD Manager:
Joleen Thiele - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Office: (402) 878-4060 ext. 2001
Cell: (402) 922-2268

EPD main office number: (402) 878-4060
Fax number: (402) 878-4059

Water Quality Specialist: Denise Jensen  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - ext. 2002
Air Quality Specialist: Vacant - email - ext. 2003
GIS/GPS: Byron Walker - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - ext. 2004
Tribal Response/Brownfield Coordinator: Victoria Goodin - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - ext. 2005
Solid Waste/Recycling Specialist/ Administrant Support Assistant: James Neff - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - ext. 2007

Physical Address:
115 North Mission Road
Winnebago, Nebraska 68071

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 687
Winnebago, NE 68071