Sunday, December 17, 2017

Overall Calls for US Nitrogen Hearing


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A local activist and opponent of the US Nitrogen's Greene County operations is calling on Tennessee officials to combine a series of recent requests from the chemical company and hold a public hearing so local citizens can voice their concerns.
In a letter sent last week to an official of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Park Overall of Afton said US Nitrogen's history has shown that the company is not capable of running the ammonium nitrate plant safely.
Noting a flurry of recent requests for amendments to its permits or exemption from existing regulations, Overall wrote that the agency needs to consider the combined impact of all those proposed changes.
The most recent request submitted to TDEC asks that the company be exempted from limits on visible emissions during start-up and shut-down operations. Other pending requests include an extension of a permit for a carbon dioxide liquefaction operation and an amendment to a flare permit.
One US Nitrogen request regarding a 52,000 gallon storage tank was approved just as Overall submitted her letter.
"Excess emissions that are caused by poor maintenance, careless operations or other preventable conditions do not qualify for any exemptions," Overall wrote in the letter to Michelle Owenby, a TDEC director.
Citing concerns of local residents over the health impact of US Nitrogen's operations, Overall asked that all the pending requests be combined and considered looking at their cumulative impact.
"To those living near the plant site, US Nitrogen's flurry of recent requests only reinforces the notion that serious problems exist with the construction and operation of the facility," the letter continues.
Stating that "history is also littered with uncontrolled accidental releases that show an inability to  safely operate this facility," Overall asked the agency to hold a public hearing in Midway, where US Nitrogen is located, before acting on any of the pending requests.
Overall also requested a series of TDEC records regarding US Nitrogen's existing and requested permits. She also questioned why the company did not previously report the excess emissions during start-up or shut-down procedures.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com

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