US Nitrogen Owner Has Long TN History

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

When Austin Powder, the Ohio based explosives manufacturer, first proposed building a chemical plant in Green County, most area residents had never heard of it, but records show the company actually has had a presence in Tennessee for nearly 50 years.
Records also show some of the company's state permits indicate manufacturing of explosives may be one of the company's Tennessee activites.
The company did not respond to a series of questions about its activities in Tennessee including whether or not explosives are being manufactured at its facilities within the state boundaries.
The company which owns Midway based US Nitrogen LLC, first purchased property in Davidson County in 1972 when it purchased over 500 acres in Pegram from a machinery company. Additional adjoining acreage was purchased in 1976 and yet another 75 acres were purchased in 1989.
The little noticed Davidson facility recently drew the attention of state and federal environmental regulators who cited the company for mutiple violations including unauthorized logging and blocking or obstructing waterways. The state issued a cease and desist order. The company has filed a corrective action plan.
In Lafollette Campbell County Austin Powder purchased a 401 acre site in 1991 followed by two additional purchases.
State permits show the company has listed the Lafollette site on Austin Powder Road as a storage and distribution center, but the application to the state Department of Environment and Conservation has a box for manufacturing checked off as one of the facility activities.
In addition a schematic submitted by the company in 2020 shows a mixing plant on the property.
US Nitrate produces ammonium nitrate which is then mixed with other ingredients at another site to manufacture the actual explosives, which are Austin Powder's major product.
In announcing the plans for US Nitrogen, company officials indicated the ammonium nitrate would be shipped out of state for the final mixing process, but Lafollette and Pegram are much closer.
From Midway to Pegram is about 260 miles, a straight shot on Route I-40. Lafolette is only 98.4 miles from Midway.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com