Appeals of US Nitrogen Permits Denied

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

An administrative law judge has formally denied a series of appeals filed by Greeneville, Tenn. area residents challenging permit granted by Tennessee environmental officials to US Nitrogen.
In a series of letters issued on May 17 Administrative Law Judge Rob Wilson denied the appeals filed by some 18 residents challenging permits issued to US Nitrogen by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
According to TDEC records, the appeals challenged permits allowing US Nitrogen located in Midway to draw millions of gallons of water per day from the Nolichucky River for use in the production of liquid ammonium nitrate. Another protested permit allows the company to discharge water directly into the river.
The appeals, all filed in 2014, were consolidated into a single case.
In one appeal Stan Olmstead of Jonesborough charged that the permits would result in the degradation of the river.
Others filing appeals included Don Bible and Jack and Margaret Renner. Bible said he did not recall ever being informed of a hearing on the appeals.
Many of those filing the appeals stated that they lived along the Nolichucky.
Wilson stated in a letter denying the appeals that all parties had agreed to the dismissals on May 16. The appeals were dismissed "with prejudice.":
The appeals were one of several efforts by local opponents of the US Nitrogen project to block the construction and use of the $200 million manufacturing facility.
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