US Nitrogen Permit Still Under Review

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials are still reviewing new permit applications for a Greene County chemical firm, but the company can continue to operate under its old permit.
Kim Schofinski, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said today that agency officials are still reviewing the US Nitrogen application along with comments submitted in writing or at a series of public hearings held over a month ago.
Two other firms located in the same Midway site also are seeking permits. Previously all three firms were operating under a single permit
"TDEC is currently in the process of reviewing comments, preparing a response, and making necessary changes, if any, to the draft permit," Schofinski wrote in an email response to questions.
"Once that process is complete, a proposed permit will be sent to EPA for review," she added.
Up until now US Nitrogen LLC, Praxair Inc. and Yara North America have been operating under a construction permit.
"The facility can continue to operate under the authority of and in accordance with their construction permits until an issuance of a conditional major operating permit," Schofinski wrote.
The new permit scheme has raised concerns some of which were expressed at a series of June public hearings and in written comments.
Both the Sierra Club and an expert hired by local activist Park Overall have argued against issuing three separate permits.
US Nitrogen is seeking a conditional major operating permit for ammonia, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate solution manufacturing operations. The permit would set limits on nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide emissions.
Praxair is seeking a permit to construct a carbon dioxide liquefaction operation while Yara seeks to takeover construction of a calcium nitrate production facility including digesting reactors, mixing tanks and a filter press.
Scott Banberry of the Sierra Club told TDEC that he opposed separating the permits because it eliminates looking at the combined impact of all three operations, which are all operating on the same Midway site.
Howard Gebhart, an environmental consultant brought in by Park Overall, submitted detailed objections to the permit proposals and urged TDEC to place additional monitoring and reporting requirements on the three companies.
Gebhart also questioned the legality of the three permit scheme and warned that the net result could be a tripling of emissions from the combined operations.
US Nitrogen already has won TDEC approval to renew a separate permit which enables the chemical firm to pump millions of gallons of water per week from the Nolichucky River for use in the production of ammonium nitrate.