Trial set for case involving U.S. Nitrogen approval process

Greeneville, Tenn. — A trial involving U.S. Nitrogen LLC’s fast-track approval by local governmental entities has been set for three days starting Oct. 22, 2014, instead of in March as originally planned (GM March 10, p. 11, GM March 17, p. 13), according to the local Greeneville Sun. Plaintiffs allege that the local Greene County government, the Greene County Commission, Greene County Zoning Board, and Greene County Partnership (GCP) unlawfully and unconstitutionally fast-tracked the approval process for the $220 million U.S. Nitrogen plant in violation of the Tennessee Open Meetings Act. The GCP, which functions as a local development board, continues to seeking dismissal from the case, saying that it is not a government agency. In the meantime, plaintiffs have filed for discovery of information leading up to the 2011 approval. U.S. Nitrogen is not a party to the case. The nearly completed plant is expected to be in operation later this year.