US Nitrogen Tests to Begin

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Tennessee environmental officials have disclosed key tests at a Greene County chemical firm will take place next week with state officials due to be in attendance.
According to an email from an official of the state Department of Environment and Conservation the tests will get under way on Monday with preparatory work by AMP Cherokee, the company brought in by US Nitrogen. The tests will be conducted on the company's two ammonia trains, key elements in the production of ammonium nitrate, one of the company's main products.
According to the email sent to Park Overall, a local environmental activist, actual tests on the first ammonia train will begin at mid-morning on Tuesday. Overall has been pressing state officials for details on the timing of the tests.
Tests on the second ammonia train will take place Wednesday.
A critical part of the tests will be the startups of the two trains and the level of emissions recorded during each step of that process. The company has encountered problems in some previous start ups.
In a related development Overall has challenged the methodology proposed by US Nitrogen in setting standards for the production of anhydrous ammonia, a separate product produced by the Midway firm.
In a April 7 letter to TDEC official Michelle Owenby Overall wrote that the method proposed by US Nitrogen could result in the company underestimating the projected emissions.
The company has proposed that the standard be based on the results of a test conducted on Nov. 21 and 22 of 2016.
Overall, however, proposed that TDEC should also consider the latest test results and apply the higher standard, either the 2016 test results or the latest tests.
The higher factor should apply, Overall wrote.
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