Hearing Sought on US Nitrogen Shift

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A local environmental activist has formally requested that Tennessee officials hold a pubic hearing on a pending change in the processes being utilized by a major chemical manufacturer operating in Greene County.
Local resident Park Overall submitted the hearing request Friday in an email to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The request was submitted in response to the recent disclosure by US Nitrogen that it was implementing a new unspecified manufacturing process at its nitric acid plant in Midway.
The plant has been the source of multiple events including a series of unplanned chemical vapor releases, one of which triggered an emergency response.
In an email to multiple TDEC officials Friday, Overall wrote,"If there is gonna be another process change, we will require a public hearing."
The disclosure about a new process being employed at the ammonium nitrate manufacturing facility came in a request from US Nitrogen to put its pending request for a waiver from opacity limits be put on hold. In the notice to TDEC, US Nitrogen officials indicated they were hopeful the new processes would eliminate the need for a waiver.
The US Nitrogen notice did not provide any details on what new processes were being deployed. The company has not responded to requests for details.
TDEC formally acknowledged Overall's request and posted a copy on it on its web site today.
In yet another new recent development, US Nitrogen filed an application to TDEC on March 16 to renew the permit that allows the firm to pump nearly 2 million gallons of water per day from the Nolichucky River for use in its manufacturing operations.
Under the controversial permit, the company also is allowed to discharge waste water from its manufacturing facility back in to the river.
In response to the permit renewal application, TDEC wrote that a review process was underway and notice will be issued within 30 days if there are questions or the application is deemed deficient. The current permit expires June 2.
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