US Nitrogen Reports Another Malfunction

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

For the second month in a row a Greene County chemical company has reported that due to an equipment malfunction it had to estimate the amount of free water it drew from the Nolichucky River for use in the production of liquid ammonium nitrate and related chemicals.
The report filed this week with the state Department of Environment and Conservation by US Nitrogen states that the three day malfunction occurred from Nov. 15 to Nov. 17. During that three day period the company reported that it drew about 800,000 gallons per day from the Nolichucky.
In the prior report covering the month of October the firm reported a similar glitch occurred from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13. In the new monthly report, which is required under US Nitrogen's state permit, the company reported withdrawing 17.18 million gallons from the river. That is down slightly from the 17.7 milliom withdrawn in October.
In the same report the chemical firm reported discharging 5.2 million gallons back into the river.
On three days in November, Nov. 14 to Nov.16, the company reported pumpimg over 800,000 gallons from the river.
It discharged over 500,000 gallons back into the river on five days during the month with the total topping more than 400,000 on five days.
On 12 days during the month, including Nov. 25 to Nov. 27, it reported it only discharged minimal amounts back in to the Nolichucky.
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