US Nitrogen Gets Permit Waiver

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials have approved a petition filed by US Nitrogen to classify a new emergency backup generator on its Greene County site as an insignificant pollution source thus exempting the equipment from requiring a permit.
In a one-page letter sent this week to Dylan Charles, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said it agreed with the company that a more thorough review process was not required.
The chemical company had requested the "insignificant source" classification in a letter sent to TDEC earlier this month.
According to Charles letter the generator will be installed in US Nitrogen's security building located in Midway. Charles said in the letter that the generator would release less than five tons of air contaminants per year and that it would run on propane.
"It has been determined that the emergency generator for the security building described in you application would constitute an "insignificant activity" or insignificant emissions unit," James P. Johnston of TDEC wrote in the letter.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com

USN Magnesium Levels Top Standards

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

The level of magnesium detected in storm water runoff at US Nitrogen's sprawling Greene County site exceeded benchmark levels by a factor of 200 and also nearly doubled the amount reported a year ago, according to data submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
In an annual report submitted this week by US Nitrogen, the company reported the benchmark levels of magnesium were exceeded at two monitoring sites on the company's Midway location.
Similar results have been reported in prior years and a company official said in a letter to TDEC that US Nitrogen's industrial activities "do not utilize material with notable levels of magnesium."
Dylan Charles of US Nitrogen wrote that the company continues to believe the above normal readings "are from background concentrations and/or from water flowing across rock."
He stated that excess levels of magnesium have been detected in water samples collected from the Nolichucky River and other surface waters in the area.
At one monitoring site magnesium levels in storm water runoff were 10.7 milligrams per liter and they reached 14.9 milligrams per liter at a second site. The benchmark level is .0636 milligrams per liter, according to US Nitrogen's submission.
Last year the highest level of magnesium was 7.91 milligrams per liter
He said one of the two sites with excess readings is located in an area where no manufacturing takes place. That area receives runoff from a parking lot, the letter states.
He also noted that portions of the storm water runoff on the site "are conveyed through a series of rock lined channels."
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US Nitrogen Water Use Jumps

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

The amount of water drawn by US Nitrogen from the Nolichucky River jumped in November with more than a million gallons drawn on six separate days.
The totals for withdrawal from the river and the amount pumped back into the Nolichucky were included in a report filed today with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
In a related development TDEC has renewed for two years a permit granted to Yara North America to produce calcium carbonate on the same Midway site with US Nitrogen. The permit was extended to Dec. 3, 2020.
The US Nitrogen report states that a total of 18.6 million gallons were pumped from the river during the month while 6.9 million was pumped back into the river. US Nitrogen uses the river water to produce ammonium nitrate.
In the last report the company reported pumping 11.6 million gallons from the river and discharging 5.7 million back in to the river,
That product is then used by US Nitrogen's parent, Austin Powder, to manufacture explosives.
While more than 1 million gallons were taken on six days, the company pumped minimal amounts on five days.
On nine days the company pumped no water back into the river. The highest discharge daily amounts were slightly above 500,000 gallons and that occurred on four days.
The water is pumped through two 12 mile pipelines from the Midway plant to the Nolichucky. US Nitrogen recently settled suits by landowners who charged that the state permit for the pipeline was illegal and that US Nitrogen improperly placed the pipeline on private property.

Greene County Firm Fined

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A Greene County firm has been fined $4,500 by Tennessee environmental officials for failing to maintain and produce records of emission monitoring required under state permits.
The fine on SumiRico, previously known as DTR LLC, was imposed on Nov. 27 by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation after inspectors went to the facility and asked to see the records that the company is required to maintain for at least five years.
According to the notice from TDEC Director Michelle Owenby, the company permit requires daily, weekly and monthly recording of certain emissions.
The monitoring is required of emission on the company's controlled coating operations. The firm produces parts for auto manufacturer's including anti-vibration products. Its customers include Honda and Toyota, according to the company web site
The inspectors visited the Midway firm on Feb. 27 and March 21 and asked to see three different sets of records, but in each case the firm "was unable to provide these records or confirm that the respondent (SumiRico) had performed these requirements."
The firm has been the subject of prior TDEC actions.