TDEC Fines US Nitrogen $1,500

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials have imposed a $1,500 fine on US Nitrogen for installing and or operating a multimillion gallon ammonia storage facility without obtaining a required permit.
In an eight-page notice issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Air Pollution Control Director Michelle W. Owenby, said that the storage facility was actually constructed in mid-2016 but only became known to the agency during an inspector's visit to the Midway operation early this year.
The notice states that under state law and regulations the company could be fined up to $25,000 per day for the violation.
Owenby cited a series of permits issued to US Nitrogen by TDEC dating back to July 14, 2011.
Specifically the notice charges the company with "constructing/operating an air contaminant source prior to applying for and receiving the required permits."
According to the notice the company only filed a permit application on May 14 of this year following the inspector's visit. The application listed potential annual emissions of 23.3 tons per year. TDEC issued a formal notice of violation on June 29.
The notice states that the company can file an appeal and request a hearing.
The TDEC notice is not the only regulatory incident involving the Greene County firm in recently. In a recent consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company agreed to pay a $27,377 penalty for failing to protect against the accidental release of hazardous materials.
The ammonium nitrate manufacturer also recently sought to shift blame for another environmental violation to a third party, but the effort was rebuffed by TDEC.
Contact: wfrochejr@gmail.com