TDEC Dismisses US Nitrogen Complaints

By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Tennessee environmental officials have effectively dismissed complaints from two area residents about flames and odors from the Midway chemical plant where ammonium nitrate is produced.
In separate but similar emails Amanda Davis, a manager with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said an investigation of complaints filed by Sherry Cooper and Park Overall showed no permit violations by US Nitrogen LLC.
The two had complained that they witnessed bright flames emanating from the manufacturing complex in the evening of July 23 and the early morning of July 24.
Stating that inspectors observed the plant and also examined records and viewed videos of the time in question, TDEC concluded that there were no permit violations.
According to the emails the TDEC employees were told that the flames observed by Cooper and Overall came from a flare being used "to conduct a catalyst reduction"
"The inspector did observe various steam/water vapor plumes and in particular the cooling tower," the email states.
"There were no malfunctions or process upsets," the email states.
"Based on record reviews and observations, there is no finding of non-compliance with the permit," the email concludes.
As for other complaints from Cooper about odors from US Nitrogen, the TDEC official said those issues should be brought to the attention of the Greene County Health Department.
In a separate action another TDEC official notified Overall that TDEC will no longer respond to complaints from her unless they are based on her own personal observations. So-called third party information, the notice states, will no longer be investigated, S. Mark Braswe of TDEC's Johnson City office stated in the letter to Overall. "We have responded to a voluminous number of third party complaints you have made over a long period of time without substantiating evidence," Braswell wrote.