LINCOLN- At the beginning of the Nebraska Legislature's 108th session, Sen. Carol Blood introduced LB7, a bill that would extend Nebraska's statute of limitations for hazardous or toxic chemical exposure. Sen. Blood introduced this bill following a pipe break at the AltEn ethanol plant in Saunder County, which contaminated the waterways and surrounding area.

"This is the key to the courthouse for people," said attorney Vince Powers, who testified at a Judiciary Committee hearing for the bill this week. Blood introduced a similar piece of legislation last year, but it "failed to do what was needed," according to the senator. "The Legislature needs to take a hold of its responsibility, and protect Nebraskans from parties that knowingly or accidentally, expose their constituents to hazardous chemicals," said Blood in defense of her bill.

Eleanor Rogan, a UNL professor, said Blood's bill is a reasonable extension of the chemical exposure statute of limitations. Rogan spent years studying the time between exposure to chemicals and when the first symptoms occur, and claimed this latency period can last up to 35 years. Trevor Towey, president of the Omaha Professional Firefighters, echoed a similar sentiment, saying that bill would benefit local firefighters.

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