By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Tennessee environmental officials have acknowledged the receipt of recent test results from US Nitrogen, which were required under the company's permit.
In a three-page letter to Dylan Charles, US Nitrogen's plant manager, Bryan Parker of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said the results from the tests conducted on July 30-31, fulfill the permit requirements.
The tests were conducted on the emissions from two ammonia production lines at US Nitrogen's Midway manufacturing facility. Each train was tested at three different production rates to determine what levels would ensure compliance with emission limits.
The test results recounted in Parker's letter indicate nitrous oxide limits were exceeded on one of the ammonia trains when it was set to produce 35 tons of ammonia per day.
The other tests were at 65 tons per day and 100 tons per day. The tests were conducted by AMP-Cherokee Environmental Solutions.
The July tests were ordered when the results from April tests were found to be inconclusive.
"The division accepts this testing for the establishment of emission factors for both production trains," Parker wrote.
"The division agrees US Nitrogen has fulfilled the testing requirement," he concluded.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
Praxair in $90 Billion Merger
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A partner firm in a Greene County manufacturing complex is merging with another industrial gas firm in a deal valued at $90 billion.
Officials of Praxair Inc. informed the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that its name will change to Linde Plc on Sept. 1.
Praxair which will be producing liquefied carbon dioxide at a Midway complex now occupied by US Nitrogen, also is seeking TDEC approval for a change in its operating permit that would eliminate one of its provisions.
In a letter to TDEC, Scott Poole, a Praxair environmental manager, asked that TDEC eliminate a provision setting a maximum level of conductivity. Conductivity is a measure of the ability to conduct electricity.
"Praxair's operation operates well below this range of conductivity," Poole wrote in the July 17 letter.
"Praxair can continue to supply daily average values for its operational conductivity to maintain compliance," the letter states.
According to published reports the merger of Linde and Praxair will produce the largest global producer of industrial gases.
A third company, Yara, also will occupy the Midway site.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A partner firm in a Greene County manufacturing complex is merging with another industrial gas firm in a deal valued at $90 billion.
Officials of Praxair Inc. informed the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that its name will change to Linde Plc on Sept. 1.
Praxair which will be producing liquefied carbon dioxide at a Midway complex now occupied by US Nitrogen, also is seeking TDEC approval for a change in its operating permit that would eliminate one of its provisions.
In a letter to TDEC, Scott Poole, a Praxair environmental manager, asked that TDEC eliminate a provision setting a maximum level of conductivity. Conductivity is a measure of the ability to conduct electricity.
"Praxair's operation operates well below this range of conductivity," Poole wrote in the July 17 letter.
"Praxair can continue to supply daily average values for its operational conductivity to maintain compliance," the letter states.
According to published reports the merger of Linde and Praxair will produce the largest global producer of industrial gases.
A third company, Yara, also will occupy the Midway site.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Saturday, August 15, 2020
US Nitrogen Submits Some Emission Test Results
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A Greene County chemical firm has submitted some of the reults of recent performance tests completed at the Midway facility, but other test results are still being reviewed.
US Nitrogen submitted aa 97-page report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on tests performed at the end of last month on two ammonia production units at the Midway ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant.
The tests were ordered to determine if the company was in compliance with the limits on nitrogen oxides and ammonia emissions in its state permit.
The data submitted indicates that the nitrogen oxide limits may have been exceeded when the lowest level of fuel consumption was used.
Under the test plans the emissions were measured using three different levels of fuel consumption.
The tests, which were witnessed by a TDEC official, were conducted by AMP Environmental Solutions of Napier, N.C. on July 30 and 31.
In a letter to Michelle Owenby, TDEC's technical secretary, Stephen Wallace of US Nitrogen wrote that the additional tests were conducted because tests conducted in April proved to be inconclusive.
Wallace wrote that in addition to the emissions tests engineering tests were performed "for the purpose of developing engineering factors upon which to base continuing compliance with the nitrogen oxides and ammonia limits in the operating permit."
Wallace added that the results of those tests were still under review and a report would be submitted to the state within a few days.
In a related matter US Nitrogen submitted a monthly report to the state on the amount of water it pumped from the Nolichucky River for use in its operations.
According to the report on July operations the company pumped 13 million gallons from the river while discharging nearly 7.5 million gallons back into the river.
On seven days during the month no water was pumped from the Nolichucky. On four days including July 30 over a million gallons was pumped from the river.
On eight days, including July 4 and 5, only a minimal amount was pumped back into the river.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A Greene County chemical firm has submitted some of the reults of recent performance tests completed at the Midway facility, but other test results are still being reviewed.
US Nitrogen submitted aa 97-page report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on tests performed at the end of last month on two ammonia production units at the Midway ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant.
The tests were ordered to determine if the company was in compliance with the limits on nitrogen oxides and ammonia emissions in its state permit.
The data submitted indicates that the nitrogen oxide limits may have been exceeded when the lowest level of fuel consumption was used.
Under the test plans the emissions were measured using three different levels of fuel consumption.
The tests, which were witnessed by a TDEC official, were conducted by AMP Environmental Solutions of Napier, N.C. on July 30 and 31.
In a letter to Michelle Owenby, TDEC's technical secretary, Stephen Wallace of US Nitrogen wrote that the additional tests were conducted because tests conducted in April proved to be inconclusive.
Wallace wrote that in addition to the emissions tests engineering tests were performed "for the purpose of developing engineering factors upon which to base continuing compliance with the nitrogen oxides and ammonia limits in the operating permit."
Wallace added that the results of those tests were still under review and a report would be submitted to the state within a few days.
In a related matter US Nitrogen submitted a monthly report to the state on the amount of water it pumped from the Nolichucky River for use in its operations.
According to the report on July operations the company pumped 13 million gallons from the river while discharging nearly 7.5 million gallons back into the river.
On seven days during the month no water was pumped from the Nolichucky. On four days including July 30 over a million gallons was pumped from the river.
On eight days, including July 4 and 5, only a minimal amount was pumped back into the river.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
TDEC Dismisses US Nitrogen Complaints
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Tennessee environmental officials have effectively dismissed complaints from two area residents about flames and odors from the Midway chemical plant where ammonium nitrate is produced.
In separate but similar emails Amanda Davis, a manager with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said an investigation of complaints filed by Sherry Cooper and Park Overall showed no permit violations by US Nitrogen LLC.
The two had complained that they witnessed bright flames emanating from the manufacturing complex in the evening of July 23 and the early morning of July 24.
Stating that inspectors observed the plant and also examined records and viewed videos of the time in question, TDEC concluded that there were no permit violations.
According to the emails the TDEC employees were told that the flames observed by Cooper and Overall came from a flare being used "to conduct a catalyst reduction"
"The inspector did observe various steam/water vapor plumes and in particular the cooling tower," the email states.
"There were no malfunctions or process upsets," the email states.
"Based on record reviews and observations, there is no finding of non-compliance with the permit," the email concludes.
As for other complaints from Cooper about odors from US Nitrogen, the TDEC official said those issues should be brought to the attention of the Greene County Health Department.
In a separate action another TDEC official notified Overall that TDEC will no longer respond to complaints from her unless they are based on her own personal observations. So-called third party information, the notice states, will no longer be investigated, S. Mark Braswe of TDEC's Johnson City office stated in the letter to Overall. "We have responded to a voluminous number of third party complaints you have made over a long period of time without substantiating evidence," Braswell wrote.
Tennessee environmental officials have effectively dismissed complaints from two area residents about flames and odors from the Midway chemical plant where ammonium nitrate is produced.
In separate but similar emails Amanda Davis, a manager with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said an investigation of complaints filed by Sherry Cooper and Park Overall showed no permit violations by US Nitrogen LLC.
The two had complained that they witnessed bright flames emanating from the manufacturing complex in the evening of July 23 and the early morning of July 24.
Stating that inspectors observed the plant and also examined records and viewed videos of the time in question, TDEC concluded that there were no permit violations.
According to the emails the TDEC employees were told that the flames observed by Cooper and Overall came from a flare being used "to conduct a catalyst reduction"
"The inspector did observe various steam/water vapor plumes and in particular the cooling tower," the email states.
"There were no malfunctions or process upsets," the email states.
"Based on record reviews and observations, there is no finding of non-compliance with the permit," the email concludes.
As for other complaints from Cooper about odors from US Nitrogen, the TDEC official said those issues should be brought to the attention of the Greene County Health Department.
In a separate action another TDEC official notified Overall that TDEC will no longer respond to complaints from her unless they are based on her own personal observations. So-called third party information, the notice states, will no longer be investigated, S. Mark Braswe of TDEC's Johnson City office stated in the letter to Overall. "We have responded to a voluminous number of third party complaints you have made over a long period of time without substantiating evidence," Braswell wrote.
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