Wednesday, September 23, 2020

US Nitrogen Tests Show Compliance

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials have concluded that US Nitrogen's steam generating boiler is operating in compliance with carbon monoxide emissions limits set in the company's operating permit.
In a letter sent this week to US Nitrogen's plant manager Dylan Charles, Bryan Parker of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said the test results recently submitted show compliance with the permit limits.
In the letter Parker also said the agency review showed that the procedures used in performing the tests met agency requirements.
The test for carbon monoxide emissions was performed at the same time as tests for other emissions, such as nitrous oxides. The Midway chemical firm hired an outside testing firm to perform the tests.
Parker noted that at the time of the test the steam boiler, which operates on natural gas, was operating at only 55.5 per cent of its maximum operating capacity.
"The division considers the operation of the boiler to be acceptable," Parker wrote in the two-page letter, adding that the division agrees that US Nitrogen "has demonstrated compliance with the carbon monoxide emisssions limits."
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com

Friday, September 11, 2020

US Nitrogen Boosts River Water Use

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Use of free water from the Nolichucky River by a Greene County chemical company jumped to more than 24 million gallons in the month of April, according to a report filed with Tennessee environmental officials.
The monthly report from US Nitrogen LLC shows the company pumped more than 1.2 million gallons from the Nolichucky River on nine days during the month, including three straight days beginning on Aug. 19.
The total was one of the highest in recent months. Other high totals include 21.7 million gallons pumped from the river in October of 2019 and 23 million gallons in July of 2019. The highest monthly total, 38.7 million gallons, came in December of 2017.
On three days in August beginning on Aug.7 the coompany pumped no water from the river.
The monthly report shows the ammonium nitrate manufacturer discharged 13 million gallons of wastewater back in to the river, with more than 500,000 discharged on Aug. 18 and Aug. 31.
US Nitrogen gained permits to pump water to and from the river from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The current discharge permit expires Oct. 31 and the company recently filed a renewal application.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

TDEC Accepts US Nitrogen Test Results

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Recent environmental tests at a Greene County chemical firm were conducted with the facility running at only 74 per cent of its designed capacity, according to state officials.
In a two-page letter sent Monday to US Nitrogen, a compliance manager at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said that the agency, nonetheless, concluded that the June 15 tests demonstrated compliance with the emission limits set forth in the company's operating permit.
The tests measured emissions of nitrous oxide and ammonia on the two ammonia production trains at the Midway ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant.
"The division recognizes that this production rate (74 per cent) was the highest achievable during the test period and acceptable for testing purposes," the letter from Bryan Parker states.
While the permit allows nitric acid production of 600 tons per day, the tests were conducted at the rate of 442 tons per day.
According to the letter the testing showed ammonia emissions of 1.19 pounds per hour while the permit limit is 3 pounds per hour or 5.19 tons per year.
The tests were performed June 15 by AMP Cherokee Environmental Solutions. Prior AMP Cherokee tests of US Nitrogen emissions conducted in April were deemed inconclusive.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com