Just a few days ago state lawmakers were asked to launch an investigation into a polluted ethanol plant in Mead. Now they're being asked to shell out $10 million to find out the human and environmental consequences.

The money would come from the state’s $1 billion federal COVID relief fund.

The $10 million would enable the University of Nebraska Medical Center to evaluate the health risks left behind at the Alt-En Plant where, for reasons still not clear, the company was allowed to produce ethanol with corn and soybeans coated in pesticides.

The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee heard the problems and concerns loud and clear Thursday.

Al Davis (Sierra Club): Dogs were sick, dead raccoons found near piles of the product. Dead beavers at a nearby contaminated pond, the disappearance of birds and insects and numerous respiratory health costs within the human community.

Janece Mollhoff (Ashland, NE.): It is unknown exactly which compounds the area residents and those of us who live downstream were exposed (to).

Ken Winston (BOLD Alliance): There's been some the messaging in and out of the community that all the problems are being taken care of and that's just simply not true.

No one opposed State Sen. Carol Blood’s $10 million request but the money for Mead is just one in a long wish-list from other lawmakers looking to those federal COVID funds to cure a lot of ills.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has already put his name on several hundred million dollars.

It’s not clear when the Mead request will be answered; that call for a special investigation is also under review.