US Nitrogen River Use Drops Again

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

US Nitrogen, the Midway chemical firm, drew 11.6 million gallons of water from the Nolichucky River in October, according to a report filed today with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
The report, required under one of the company's state permits, shows a minimal amount of water was pumped from the river on 11 days during the month.
The company pumped 5.7 million gallons back into the Nolichucky the report shows with the largest amount in any one day a little over 500,000 gallons. On 14 days no water was pumped back into the Nolichucky.
The monthly report is the second in a row to show a significant drop in the river water being utilized. In September 13.84 million gallons were pumped from the river and that was a more than 20 per cent decline from the August total. The amount of water pumped back into the river in September, however, was the same amount as reported for October.
The water is pumped through dual pipelines stretching some 12 miles from the Midway plant to the river.
Court records show three suits challenging the legality of the pipeline were settled for an unspecified sum.
Landowners had charged that the pipelines trespassed on their property, while the company contended the pipeline was contained in the rights-of-way of two state highways.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, which was a defendant in the suits, granted US Nitrogen a permit to locate the pipeline within the rights-of-way.
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