USN Aquatic Testing Plan Submitted

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A consulting firm has submitted details of the testing it plans to perform to determine whether the operations of a chemical firm have had an adverse effect on the aquatic life in the Nolichucky River.
Dinkins Biological Consulting LLC submitted its 12-page plan to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The tests will be focused around milemarker 20.8 in the Nolichucky River, the site where U.S. Nitrogen LLC pumps some 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day.
Dinkins said the efforts would "test the biological integrity and diversity of the receiving stream (Nolichucky)."
Just when the tests will be performed was not disclosed but the filing indicates it will likely be over a three month period ending in September. The filing states that TDEC will get notice about two weeks in advance of the testing.
State officials questioned US Nitrogen about the tests which were due to be performed months earlier only after local environmental activist Park Overall questioned why no test results had been disclosed.
US Nitrogen draws million of gallons per month from the river for use in the production of ammonium nitrate and related products. Some 500,000 gallons of river water not needed in production and cooling are pumped back in to the river.
In addition to gathering samples downriver from US Nitrogen's pumping stations, the consulting company also will collect samples upstream from that location.
As a further point of reference the company plans to collect sample from a separate river, the Powell River at McDowell Shoal.
The samplings will be taken within seven days of each other, according to the plan. The state will be informed if conditions force a change in that timetable.
The Dinkins filing states that the details of the testing plan were drawn up after consultation with TDEC officials.
The plan notes that data also will be gathered for comparison purposes from U.S. Geological Service gages along the river.
The plan states that the samples will be gathered in triangular dipnets and they will be brought to another firm, Pennington Associates of Cookeville, for testing. The results will be submitted to TDEC within 30 days of their receipt by Dinkins.
The samples will be "strictly controlled" by Dinkins until they are turned over to Pennington, the report states.
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