Friday, July 27, 2018

US Nitrogen Under State Review


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials have disclosed that a Greene County chemical firm is undergoing a review of its compliance with a series of state permits.
The ongoing review of US Nitrogen, which included a two day on-site visit, was disclosed in a letter sent Thursday to a Mosheim resident who had filed a complaint about a foul odor with the state five months ago.
Ron Wilhoit, an inspector with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, wrote to Sonja Craig of Mosheim earlier this week in response to a complaint she had registered on Feb. 28.
"A compliance inspection was conducted at US Nitrogen on July 2-3, 2018. Results are still pending," Without wrote in the letter which was posted on the TDEC website.
Contacted at her home Craig said she had yet to receive Wilhoit's letter, but she had just received a letter from another TDEC official responding to the same February complaint.
The letter from, Michelle Owenby, TDEC's director of air pollution control, said the complaint had been investigated and the results were still being compiled. Owenby's letter indicated that investigation focused on another company, Scepter, Inc., of Waverly, but that no violations were apparent
Craig, who said she has experienced chemical vapors from both companies, said the vapors evident on Feb. 28 were similar to those emitted in the past by Scepter, a company that recycles aluminum.
Whatever the source, Craig said the odors were overwhelming.
"I about passed out," she said. "I thought I was going to die."
She said the February incident was consistent with the cooking of aluminum, a process performed at Scepter.
She said an entirely different odor was present when a cloud of nitric acid vapor was released from US Nitrogen.
Craig, who has lived in the area for 38 years, said the once pristine area, has now become overcome by industrial development.
She said that when she first learned that US Nitrogen was planning to locate in Mosheim, "I knew we were in trouble."
"I'm amazed at how it's changed," she said,"and there isn't a thing we can do."
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Overall Calls For Maximum USN Fine


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Citing what she called a history of violations, a local activist is calling on Tennessee environmental officials to reject pleas for mercy from US Nitrogen and impose the maximum penalties against the Greene County chemical company.
In a three-page letter sent Tuesday, Park Overall charged that the ammonium nitrate manufacturer has repeatedly flaunted its legal responsibilities including the latest disclosure about the company's failure to get a permit to store and load ammonia.
The letter was in response to a plea by US Nitrogen for the state to waive any penalties in the wake of the June 28 violation notice issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Andrew Velo of US Nitrogen responded to the violation notice by contending that the company had always attempted to be open and transparent in its dealings with the state and requested that TDEC"exercise its discretion and not assess civil penalties in this instance."
Overall, a vocal opponent of the US Nitrogen project, said the agency "should continue its investigation and pursue appropriate enforcement and penalties...US Nitrogen cannot be allowed to continually flaunt its legal responsibilities for environmental control."
Overall said emissions of ammonia "are a serious concern and potential hazard for those living in and around the facility."
She disputed the company's claim that ammonia storage and handling operations were known to TDEC noting that the flare being used to vent the storage area had a different use in a 2013 application.
"It is absurd for US Nitrogen to claim it has been forthcoming with TDEC when key facts about ammonia emissions from plant operations were omitted from the required permit applications filed with the agency," she added.
Overall said the company's actions did not meet the requirements to qualify for a waiver of financial penalties.
"Simply put, US Nitrogen is a repeat offender and does not deserve any leniency," she wrote.
TDEC in its June 28 notice of violation did not indicate whether a fine would be imposed.
Overall said that once US Nitrogen does submit the proper permit application it should be subject to a complete review including public hearings.
She concluded by calling on the agency "to initiate strong and aggressive enforcement to ensure that US Nitrogen gets the message that continued violations will not be tolerated."
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com













Monday, July 23, 2018

US Nitrogen Request On Hold


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

US Nitrogen's recent request for a modification in one of its permits has been put on hold because the company failed to include a required $50 fee.
In a letter sent out today a deputy director for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation told the Greene County chemical firm that the July request was considered incomplete "because the the required application filing/processing fee was not included.
In the interim, the letter from Deputy Director James P. Johnson, states that the company cannot proceed with any changes.
The ammonium nitrate manufacturer had submitted a request on July 18 for modifications of the conditions of the permit for cooling towers used in the manufacturing process at the Midway plant.
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Thursday, July 19, 2018

US Nitrogen Wants Any Fines Waived


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Contending it has always been transparent in its dealings with regulators, US Nitrogen is asking Tennessee officials to waive any fines based on its failure to seek a separate permit for the construction and operation of an ammonia storage facility.
In a Friday letter responding to a violation notice dated June 28. Andrew Velo, the manufacturing director for the Midway, Tenn. chemical firm asked officials of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to "exercise its discretion and not assess civil penalties in this instance."
The June 28 violation notice issued by TDEC did not specify whether or not a fine would be imposed or suggest any amount should a fine be levied.
In his letter Velo suggested that it was a decision by the division itself that led to the confusion about the use of a flare to burn off any excess ammonia vapors.
The three-page letter was in response to the charge that the ammonium nitrate manufacturer had constructed an ammonia storage facility without first seeking a permit and providing data on any projected environmental impact.
"US Nitrogen has always worked closely with the Division, meeting with Division personnel numerous times before ever submitting it first permit application in 2011," Velo wrote in the letter to TDEC deputy director James P. Johnson.
Stating that there was "no intent to construct without a permit," Velo wrote that his company had "consistently worked in good faith with the division as a partner, sharing information and being absolutely transparent."
Velo added that his company, the subsidiary of explosives manufacturer Austin Powder, had been "transparent that ammonia storage and loading is an integral part of our process."
As to questions about the use of flares to burn off emissions, Velo said it was the state agency that "decided it best to permit the flare alone in its own permit."
"Had the decision been made to permit the flare as a control device early on, the flare likely would have received more attention and it would have been clear that emissions from ammonia storage were vented to the flare," Velo stated.
In addition Velo wrote that the company had been clear "over the years" that the flare might have some ammonia emissions.
The company manager also argued that a permit amendment submitted late last year "could be treated by the division as a disclosure under the department's self disclosure policy."
"Therefore," Velo concluded, "we should not be penalized for voluntarily clarifying the source of gas vented to the OSBL flare, especially since the emissions from this flare did not materially change."
In another related action, US Nitrogen this week applied for yet another amendment to one of its TDEC permits. Citing "accelerated corrosion" in its cooling tower operations, the company said it "needs to alter the composition of the cooling water make-up."
The amendment seeks permission to increase the conductivity of the cooling tower operations which will increase the emissions, according to the data submitted to TDEC.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Rana Released From Iowa Jail


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A one time executive of US Nitrogen has been released from an Iowa jail after being found in contempt for failing to comply with the provisions of a divorce decree.
Shawn Rona was released from the Des Moines County Correctional Center last week after serving out a 30-day sentence imposed by the judge presiding over his divorce case. District Judge Michael Schilling had imposed a 90 day sentence after finding Rana guilty of multiple counts of contempt. He suspended all but 30 days of the sentence.
Rana and his now ex-wife Leanna owned property in eastern Tennessee during the time he worked at US Nitrogen. Shawn Rana was also an executive of Austin Powder, US Nitrogen's parent.
After leaving US Nitrogen Rana became an executive of an Iowa company.
While at US Nitrogen he played a major role in the early days of the company before the $220 million Midway facility.
He was found in contempt for failure to pay thousands of dollars in child support and alimony.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com


Thursday, July 12, 2018

US Nitrogen Issues River Report


By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A Greene County Tennessee chemical firm has disclosed that it pumped a little over 18 million gallons of water from the Nolichucky River in June, slightly less than the prior month.
The report filed with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation also showed US Nitrogen, the ammonium nitrate manufacturer, discharged 7.67 million gallons back into the river. Both totals are just slightly less than the company reported the month before.
The May totals were 19.44 million gallons were withdrawn while 7.7 million was discharged.
The company, a subsidiary of explosives manufacturer Austin Powder, gets to use the water under its TDEC permits without paying for it. The water is pumped to and from the river through 12 mile pipelines which were installed under a state permit which is the subject of an ongoing legal challenge.
According to the TDEC report the Midway company drew very little water from the river on the first three days of the month but on four days beginning June 5 the company pumped over a million gallons from the Nolichucky. Again on June 18 and June 20 more than one million gallons was drawn by the company.
The largest discharges back into the river came on seven days of the month when over a half million gallons were discharged.
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