By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Tennessee transportation officials say they will be inspecting a Greene County right-of-way to determine there is no damage from tests planned by U.S. Nitrogen that will involve the release of thousands of gallons of water.
Mark Nagi of the Tennessee Department of Transportation said in an email response to questions that his agency has no authority over the planned release of water.
However TDOT will inspect the subject proposed utility maintenance work to ensure that the safety and integrity of the roadway is protected, Nagi said.
US Nitrogen recently informed the state Department of Environment and Conservation that it plans to discharge as much as 22,000 gallons of hydrostatic water to test for leaks in the 12 mile pipeline that runs from the company's Midway manufacturing plant to the Nolichucky River.
Nagi did say his agency was recently notified about the plans to conduct the tests.
TDEC officials have concluded that US Nitrogen does have the authority to conduct the tests under its existing permits.
Park Overall, a local environmental activist, has raised questions about the tests including why they will be conducted over a lengthy time period, ending on April 30, 2012.
Overall said she has learned that companies conducting similar leak tests completed them in a single day.
"And, no one is testing the water except US Nitrogen," Overall said, adding that considering its past performance "why should people trust them."
According to the information filed with TDEC the discharge will be made from a point in the pipeline along the right-of-way of McDonald Road 1,000 feet southeast of Lick Creek, about 1,800 feet from the Beulah Baptist Church.
TDEC has advised US Nitrogen it must submit a report with TDEC on the discharge and it must be submitted no later than 30 days after the discharge has occurred.
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