US Nitrogen Permits Waived

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials have concluded that US Nitrogen does not need special permits for a new emulsion plant and three large storage tanks including one holding sulfuric acid.
In a letter issued today a deputy director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation told US Nitrogen plant manager Dylan Charles that no permits are required for the new plant and storage tanks.
The company informed TDEC of the new facilities on May 11.
In addition to sulfuric acid tank, the other two tanks will be used to store hypochlorite.
The approvals come just days after TDEC held a public hearing in Greeneville on US Nitrogen's application to renew the permit under which it draws millions of gallons of free water per week from the Nolichucky River. Only a handful of residents showed up for the hearing.
In other developments this week TDEC acknowledged the receipt of test results on nitrous oxide and other emissions from US Nitrogen's nitric acid plant.
The tests were conducted by an outside firm hired by US Nitrogen to verify that the company did not exceed the emission limits set out in its permits.
The company also submitted quarterly data to show that emission limits on the nitric acid plant and a steam generating boiler did not exceed set limits during the first quarter of 2019.
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