US Nitrogen Took No River Water Last Month

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

US Nitrogen has reported to state officials that they drew no water from the Nolichucky River during the month of December, the first such report in several months.
The report was filed with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation this week. It marks the first time since June of last year when the company reported it did not pump any water from the river.
According to the filing while no water was withdrawn in December, 1.9 million was discharged in nearly equal amounts on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9. But the amounts listed for those two days 682,860 and 619,060 gallons, do not equal the 1.9 million discharge total listed elsewhere on the form.
Past reports on water withdrawal show the largest monthly amount, 1.95 million gallons, was pumped from the river in July of last year.
The report comes as the $200 million facility is supposed to be nearing a formal startup.
Attempted startups in August were aborted after a huge cloud of nitrogen gases was released over the facility on a 500 acre site in Midway.
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