US Nitrogen Completes Startup Tests

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

US Nitrogen has notified Tennessee environmental officials that one phase of needed startup testing has been completed with 60 days of continuous operation of the cooling towers at its Midway manufacturing facility.
In a letter to Michelle Owenby of the division of air pollution control in the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, US Nitrogen Plant Manager Andrew Velo reported the results of the 60 day monitoring of daily average conductivity ratings.
Based on those test results requested that TDEC incorporate into its permit a maximum daily average of 2,750 units.
The tests for total dissolved solids were conducted on cooling tower return water.
TDEC recently approved a series of amendments to US Nitrogen's permits giving the company additional time to report testing results. The extensions were sought following an aborted plant startup effort in August which produced a thick orange cloud that hung over the 500 acre site. 
In addition to the testing results US Nitrogen has submitted a series of photos showing efforts to come into compliance with TDEC findings during a recent inspection of the ammonium nitrate manufacturing facility.
The pictures show steps taken to control runoff and the installation of a new heat exchanger.