By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Three scheduled compliance inspections at the US Nitrogen LLC facilities in Greene County were delayed by several months due to pandemic restrictions, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Kim Schofinski, spokewoman for the agency, said the three reports are now being finalized. All three are to determine if the sites are in compliance with storm water runoff and related permit requirements.
"The time period of the inspection field activity was delayed due to observing COVID safety guidelines," Schofinski added.
Two of the inspections were due on Oct. 8 of last year and the third was due on Sept. 30, 2020.
The sites being inspected include the water treatment facility used to treat Nolichukee River water before it is used in the production of ammonium nitrate. That site is permitted to the Industrial Development Board of Greeneville and Greene County and US Nitrogen.
The other two permits were granted directly to US Nitrogen.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Friday, June 4, 2021
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
TDEC Waives 2nd USN Permit Requirement
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Tennessee environmental officials have concluded that US Nitrogen LLC does not need a permit to utilize three 20,000 gallon sump pump water tanks.
In a letter sent today Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation manager James P. Johnston wrote that, based on data submitted by US Nitrogen, the use of the tanks will have an "insignificant" effect on the environment.
The approval marks the second time in recent weeks that TDEC has waived permit requirements for the Midway chemical company. The state gave its okay on April 30 to USN's use of a 52,250 tank to be utilized in producing an ammonium nitrate and water solution. The solution will be 57 percent ammonium nitrate and 43 percent water.
In the letter sent today to Dylan Charles, the USN plant manager, Johnston wrote said that based on USN's data, the tanks would emit less than five tons per year of air contaminants and less than 1,000 pounds of hazardous air contaminants annually.
In its application USN said that the water the tanks will hold will be no more than five per cent ammonium nitrate. They will each be 13.67 feet in diameter.
As he did in approving the other waiver, Johnston closed by stating that the company must comply with all applicable air pollution regulations.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Tennessee environmental officials have concluded that US Nitrogen LLC does not need a permit to utilize three 20,000 gallon sump pump water tanks.
In a letter sent today Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation manager James P. Johnston wrote that, based on data submitted by US Nitrogen, the use of the tanks will have an "insignificant" effect on the environment.
The approval marks the second time in recent weeks that TDEC has waived permit requirements for the Midway chemical company. The state gave its okay on April 30 to USN's use of a 52,250 tank to be utilized in producing an ammonium nitrate and water solution. The solution will be 57 percent ammonium nitrate and 43 percent water.
In the letter sent today to Dylan Charles, the USN plant manager, Johnston wrote said that based on USN's data, the tanks would emit less than five tons per year of air contaminants and less than 1,000 pounds of hazardous air contaminants annually.
In its application USN said that the water the tanks will hold will be no more than five per cent ammonium nitrate. They will each be 13.67 feet in diameter.
As he did in approving the other waiver, Johnston closed by stating that the company must comply with all applicable air pollution regulations.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Thursday, May 6, 2021
US Nitrogen Files Monthly River Report
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A Greene County chemical firm withdrew nearly 25 million gallons of water from the Nolichucky River in the month of April, according to a report filed with the state.
U.S. Nitrogen LLC reported it pumped 24.6 million gallons from the river a substantial increase from the 18.9 million gallons the company reported for March.
The report submitted today to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation shows that on seven days during the month the company withdrew more than 1.4 million gallons from the riverway. On April 1, no water was withdrawn.
The same report shows a total of more than 10 million gallons was discharged back into the river during April. The highest discharge, over 600,000 gallons, came on April 6.
In March the company reported discharging 11.7 million gallons back into the Nolichucky. There was minimal discharge on six days of the month.
On 12 days the discharge exceeded 400,000 gallons.
Under its permits with TDEC the company is required to file monthly reports on its river water use. The water is pumped from the river through a 12 mile pipeline to its Midway facility.
In April the company pumped nearly 25 million gallons from the river and discharged a little over 10 million gallons. Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A Greene County chemical firm withdrew nearly 25 million gallons of water from the Nolichucky River in the month of April, according to a report filed with the state.
U.S. Nitrogen LLC reported it pumped 24.6 million gallons from the river a substantial increase from the 18.9 million gallons the company reported for March.
The report submitted today to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation shows that on seven days during the month the company withdrew more than 1.4 million gallons from the riverway. On April 1, no water was withdrawn.
The same report shows a total of more than 10 million gallons was discharged back into the river during April. The highest discharge, over 600,000 gallons, came on April 6.
In March the company reported discharging 11.7 million gallons back into the Nolichucky. There was minimal discharge on six days of the month.
On 12 days the discharge exceeded 400,000 gallons.
Under its permits with TDEC the company is required to file monthly reports on its river water use. The water is pumped from the river through a 12 mile pipeline to its Midway facility.
In April the company pumped nearly 25 million gallons from the river and discharged a little over 10 million gallons. Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Friday, April 30, 2021
TN OKs USN's 52,250 Gallon Tank Use
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Tennessee environmental regulators have agreed that the use of a 52,250 gallon tank to produce an ammonium nitrate solution is an insignificant activity and US Nitrogen does not need to get a permit.
In a letter sent today to US Nitrogen Plant Manager Dylan Charles, James Johnston of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation wrote thatnthe agemcy agreed with US Nitrogen's conclusion that a permit would not be needed.
The company advised TDEC in March that it intended to use the existing tank to produce a 57 percent ammonium nitrate-water solutuion.
TDEC approval comes after US Nitrogen informed the state that it had submitted erroneous data when it submitted the initial request. Corrected data on estimated ammonium nitrate emissions were included.
It has been dtermined the 57 percent solution tank constitutes an insignificant activity or insignificant emissions unit," Johnston wrote in the two-page letter.
Johnston wrote that "Specifically this operation would result in potential emission from this source of less than five tons per year of each air contaminant...and less than 1,000 pounds per year of each hazardous air pollutant."
He added that the March 8 letter would meet the 30 day notification requirement in state law and regulations.
"All applicable air pollution regulations must be met by your facility," Johnston concluded.
Tennessee environmental regulators have agreed that the use of a 52,250 gallon tank to produce an ammonium nitrate solution is an insignificant activity and US Nitrogen does not need to get a permit.
In a letter sent today to US Nitrogen Plant Manager Dylan Charles, James Johnston of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation wrote thatnthe agemcy agreed with US Nitrogen's conclusion that a permit would not be needed.
The company advised TDEC in March that it intended to use the existing tank to produce a 57 percent ammonium nitrate-water solutuion.
TDEC approval comes after US Nitrogen informed the state that it had submitted erroneous data when it submitted the initial request. Corrected data on estimated ammonium nitrate emissions were included.
It has been dtermined the 57 percent solution tank constitutes an insignificant activity or insignificant emissions unit," Johnston wrote in the two-page letter.
Johnston wrote that "Specifically this operation would result in potential emission from this source of less than five tons per year of each air contaminant...and less than 1,000 pounds per year of each hazardous air pollutant."
He added that the March 8 letter would meet the 30 day notification requirement in state law and regulations.
"All applicable air pollution regulations must be met by your facility," Johnston concluded.
Monday, April 26, 2021
US Nitrogen Sent State Wrong Data
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A consultant for a Greene County chemical firm has advised Tennessee environmental officials that data submitted with a recent exemption request was wrong by a factor of two.
John W. Shipp Jr. wrote in an email to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that he mistakenly entered the wrong data on vapor pressure. The data was included in a US Nitrogen request to TDEC for a new operation to produce a 57 percent ammonium nitrate and water solution.
"So the calculations I made were low by two orders of magnitude," Shipp wrote in an email to James Johnston of TDEC.
Shipp's email followed an email by Johnston to US Nitrogen raising questions about the data which he said appeared to be inconsistent.
"Can you please help me understand the differences between these data," Johnson wrote in his message to US Nitrogen.
Shipp said he mistakenly entered data showing vapor emissions two times higher than they should have been.
"All in all the vapor pressure of ammonium nitrate is very low," Shipp wrote in his email to TDEC.
US Nitrogen had submitted the data with a request that the state allow the company to use a 52,250 gallon holding tank to produce the new ammonium nitrate solution. The company contends that no new permit is needed because the new operation will have minimal environmental impact.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A consultant for a Greene County chemical firm has advised Tennessee environmental officials that data submitted with a recent exemption request was wrong by a factor of two.
John W. Shipp Jr. wrote in an email to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that he mistakenly entered the wrong data on vapor pressure. The data was included in a US Nitrogen request to TDEC for a new operation to produce a 57 percent ammonium nitrate and water solution.
"So the calculations I made were low by two orders of magnitude," Shipp wrote in an email to James Johnston of TDEC.
Shipp's email followed an email by Johnston to US Nitrogen raising questions about the data which he said appeared to be inconsistent.
"Can you please help me understand the differences between these data," Johnson wrote in his message to US Nitrogen.
Shipp said he mistakenly entered data showing vapor emissions two times higher than they should have been.
"All in all the vapor pressure of ammonium nitrate is very low," Shipp wrote in his email to TDEC.
US Nitrogen had submitted the data with a request that the state allow the company to use a 52,250 gallon holding tank to produce the new ammonium nitrate solution. The company contends that no new permit is needed because the new operation will have minimal environmental impact.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
US Nitrogen Seeks More Permit Exemptions
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
With one exemption request still pending, a Greene County chemical is asking Tennessee environmental officials to waive permitting requirements for the use of three 20,000 gallon tanks.
In a request sent this week to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, US Nitrogen said the tanks will be used to hold sump pump water. According to the applications the tanks will hold water with no more than 5 percent ammonium nitrate.
The application seeks to have the tanks exempted from permit requirements "due to insignificant emissions."
The requests come as TDEC already is considering another permit exemption for a 52,250 gallon tank US Nitrogen plans to use for the production of an ammonium and water solution. According to the recently submitted application the solution would be 57 percent ammonium nitrate and 43 percent water.
In the latest request US Nitrogen said the 20,000 gallon tanks will be 13.67 feet in diameter.
The applications do not indicate the relationship, if any, between the two requests.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
With one exemption request still pending, a Greene County chemical is asking Tennessee environmental officials to waive permitting requirements for the use of three 20,000 gallon tanks.
In a request sent this week to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, US Nitrogen said the tanks will be used to hold sump pump water. According to the applications the tanks will hold water with no more than 5 percent ammonium nitrate.
The application seeks to have the tanks exempted from permit requirements "due to insignificant emissions."
The requests come as TDEC already is considering another permit exemption for a 52,250 gallon tank US Nitrogen plans to use for the production of an ammonium and water solution. According to the recently submitted application the solution would be 57 percent ammonium nitrate and 43 percent water.
In the latest request US Nitrogen said the 20,000 gallon tanks will be 13.67 feet in diameter.
The applications do not indicate the relationship, if any, between the two requests.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, April 5, 2021
US Nitrogen Submits Two Applicatons
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
US Nitrogen LLC has submitted two application forms to Tennessee environmental officials to back up a request to begin producing a new product but without the need for a new permit.
The two forms were requested by officials of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation after the Greene County chemical firm asked the agency to declare that the new operation was an insignificant source of pollutants.
The company also submitted to TDEC a monthly report on the water it pumps from the Nolichucky River.
The two application forms state that the company plans to us an existing tank to produce a mixture of ammonium nitrate (57 percent) and water (43 percent). The process, according to the application, will result in emissions of ammonium nitrate and water vapor.
The company reported that the 52,250 gallon tank is now being used to store storm water.
Also submitted was data on how the company computed the vapor pressure of ammonium nitrate.
In its monthly report on river water use, the company said it pumped just under 19 million gallons of water from the Nolichucky River in March.
The monthly report also showed the Greene County chemical firm discharged 11.77 million gallons of wastewater back into the river.
The total withdrawn was slightly below the February figure when 20.8 million gallons were withdrawn for use in the chemical company's manufacturing processes.
The discharge total in February was slightly lower with 10.86 million gallons discharged to the river.
The water travels through a 13-mile pipeline from mile marker 20.8 on the river to the company facility in Midway.
According to the latest report a minimal amount was withdrawn from the river on six days during March. The largest amount in a single day was 1.3 million on March 12.
Minimal discharges into the river were reported on 4 days including March 13-14. The largest single day discharge was 543,000 gallons on March 31.
For the second month in a row the company reported that because of an equipment malfunction it only estimated the amount withdrawn on March 11-12. Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
US Nitrogen LLC has submitted two application forms to Tennessee environmental officials to back up a request to begin producing a new product but without the need for a new permit.
The two forms were requested by officials of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation after the Greene County chemical firm asked the agency to declare that the new operation was an insignificant source of pollutants.
The company also submitted to TDEC a monthly report on the water it pumps from the Nolichucky River.
The two application forms state that the company plans to us an existing tank to produce a mixture of ammonium nitrate (57 percent) and water (43 percent). The process, according to the application, will result in emissions of ammonium nitrate and water vapor.
The company reported that the 52,250 gallon tank is now being used to store storm water.
Also submitted was data on how the company computed the vapor pressure of ammonium nitrate.
In its monthly report on river water use, the company said it pumped just under 19 million gallons of water from the Nolichucky River in March.
The monthly report also showed the Greene County chemical firm discharged 11.77 million gallons of wastewater back into the river.
The total withdrawn was slightly below the February figure when 20.8 million gallons were withdrawn for use in the chemical company's manufacturing processes.
The discharge total in February was slightly lower with 10.86 million gallons discharged to the river.
The water travels through a 13-mile pipeline from mile marker 20.8 on the river to the company facility in Midway.
According to the latest report a minimal amount was withdrawn from the river on six days during March. The largest amount in a single day was 1.3 million on March 12.
Minimal discharges into the river were reported on 4 days including March 13-14. The largest single day discharge was 543,000 gallons on March 31.
For the second month in a row the company reported that because of an equipment malfunction it only estimated the amount withdrawn on March 11-12. Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
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