US Nitrogen Pumps 18 million River Gallons

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A Greene County chemical firm pumped more than 18 million gallons from the Nolichucky River during November, according to a report filed with Tennessee environmental regulators.
The monthly report from US Nitrogen LLC shows the company pumped more than a million gallons from the river on three separate days including 1.3 million on Nov. 18.
The company uses the river water in the production of ammonium nitrate.
The company also reported it dumped nearly 8 million gallons of excess water back into the Nolichucky.
In a related development the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issue an amended permit to Yara North America, which occupies the same Midway site as US Nitrogen.
Under the permit Yara agrees to cap its production in any 12 month period to 72,000 tons. The permit also caps nitrous oxide emissions at 19.6 tons in any 12 month period or 4.5 pounds per hour.
The permit expires on Dec. 3, 2022.