US Nitrogen LLC (USN), Mosheim, Tenn., last month notified the Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC), a section of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), that it is planning to design and construct a blending process to produce RDT-8 bulk fuel product for the production of bulk ammonium nitrate emulsion at its Tennessee emulsion facility. The operation will require the addition of four new tanks, as well as two railcars containing an oil mixture that will be onsite 24 hours, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
Potential RDT-8 production is expected to be 43.4 million pounds per year. The tank sizes in gallons are 13,500, 14,600, 34,500, and 65,800.
USN asked DAPC to designate the new tanks as insignificant emission units under the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Regulations.
Local residents said USN’s plans are a “new use” that has not been properly reviewed and approved by Greene County. More reviews and approvals are being sought for what they call a “flammable and hazardous” substance.
In other news, in August TDEC cited USN for violations in July at the carbon dioxide liquefaction facility being used by Praxair Inc. at the USN site. USN later told the agency that it had transferred the appropriate permits to Praxair, so USN was not the liable party. Praxair disagreed, saying on Sept. 18 that as of that date, the final construction permit had not been issued or signed by Praxair, and that USN remained the permit holder of record.
USN has asked TDEC to waive any penalties from a June 29 Notice of Violation (GM July 13, p. 26) for USN’s ammonia storage and loading operations constructed in June 2016 without first receiving an air quality construction permit. TDEC said since potential emissions from these operations exceed five tons per year, this operation does not qualify as an insignificant activity under Tennessee regulations. USN, in a May 2018 filing, had indicated the operations would have potential emissions of 23.3 st/y.