US Nitrogen Takes "Corrective Action"

By Walter F. Roche Jr.


Officials of a Greene County chemical firm have advised Tennessee regulators they have implemented a plan to avert a repeat of a February incident in which nearly 400,000 gallons of water overflowed from a retention pond.
In a letter dated July 11 US Nitrogen manager Steven Wallace told the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that the pump piping for the retention pond had been re-designed "to allow for additional pumping capacity."
In addition he told TDEC's Jessica Murphy that steps also were taken to divert runoff from the non-process areas of the property away from the retention pond area. That project was completed on June 28, according to Wallace's letter.
"Corrective Action Completed," the letter states.
The actions were taken in response to a March 15 notice of violation sent to US Nitrogen due to the un-permitted runoff that occurred during a period of heavy rain between Feb. 20 and Feb. 25.
US Nitrogen responded on April 12 stating that multiple corrective actions were under consideration. In the same letter the company acknowledged that some 397,000 gallons of water overflowed from the retention pond during the six day period in mid-February.
According to the April letter from US Nitrogen Plant Manager Dylan Charles, the excess runoff went into the Seven Springs branch of the Nolichucky River.
TDEC has not yet indicated whether any fine will be imposed for the permit violation.
The July 11 letter includes two pictures showing the results of the corrective actions.
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