US Nitrogen Planning Tests

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A Greene County chemical firm is planning a partial shutdown in March in order to conduct performance testing on its ammonium nitrate manufacturing operations as required under its permit from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
In a series of emails between TDEC and Stephen Wallace of US Nitrogen which were just made public today, some details of the testing procedure were disclosed. They show TDEC has offered a series of options for the company to meet permit requirements.
Wallace wrote in an email to James Johnston of TDEC, that the company was in the initial process of developing the testing plan which calls for a shutdown of one of the company's two ammonia trains in March, with a re-start expected in early April.
Wallace said the company was proposing to test only one of the ammonia trains "since both trains are designed utilizing the same equipment and piping."
The emails disclose, however, that the two ammonia trains have a slight difference in heat output.
"If the company is willing to certify that the two units are identical, then the division would be willing to accept the results from one unit as being representative of the other," the email states.
If the two units are not identical, the email continues, then the division could accept the results on the train with the higher output as representative.
"There would need to be a formal proposal from the company," the email continues.
"If US Nitrogen is amenable to either of these two options, then you should submit test protocols as required" by the permit, the email states.
Another option offered by TDEC is for US Nitrogen to request an extension of the 180 day deadline so that both units can be tested.
The state official also noted that the permit also requires testing for carbon monoxide.
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