All Posts from July 9, 2012

Sulfur

Market Watch, Sulfur, Tampa, U.S. Gulf, Vancouver, West Coast

Tampa: Mosaic has begun preliminary discussions for third quarter contract prices for molten sulfur delivered to Tampa. PotashCorp said it had not started its talks as of late last week, however.

Prices for molten sulfur delivered to Tampa have been lower than on the world market, and that was likely to continue after negotiations are complete. Most were anticipating a drop of $10-$30/lt for the third quarter.

Supply had been running a little above demand, but the problems PotashCorp had at its White Springs mine and processing facilities added to the abundance. Tropical Storm Debby caused flooding and a power outage at White Springs and the company was in the process of bringing the facility back online last week. Production at Mississippi Phosphates had returned to normal last week after being shut down by OSHA in early June following two deaths from two separate explosions.

Refinery operating capacity rate fell from 92.6 percent to 92 percent, but the drop of 0.6 percent still kept the rate at a historically high number, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

If demand for sulfur on the world market pushes prices higher after the settlement for the third quarter, sulfur producers could turn to the Gulf prill market, where prices were running higher than the Tampa price.

U.S. Gulf: Prill prices exported from the Gulf of Mexico were said to be in the $180/mt range last week.

Vancouver: It was a little unclear last week if the current weak spot market for sulfur out of Vancouver was just a blip on the radar or will carry over into new contracts. Some expect new contracts to yield close to $200/mt FOB, while others think the price could drop as much as $25/mt FOB.

West Coast: Containers were being shipped from Seattle in the $165-$175/mt FOB range last week, and that could affect prices for both Vancouver and, possibly, the Gulf of Mexico.

Benelux: The current price range was $210-$228/mt FOB, but a new range was expected soon.

Simplot unit continues ôstarö status

News, News Briefs, Western

Conda, Idaho — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again honored employees who work at the J.R. Simplot Co.’s Conda pump station near Soda Springs, Idaho, for continued participation in a safety program that earned them “star” status from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The pump station moves phosphate slurry from Simplot’s Smoky Canyon Mine near the Idaho/Wyoming border to Simplot’s fertilizer complex west of Pocatello – a distance of nearly 90 miles. The station is about 27 miles from the mine and about 60 miles from the Don Plant. The Conda station includes a machine shop, welding shop, four 1,200 horsepower driven pumps, offices and a control room to monitor operations. It was first approved as a “star” site in 1996 and has maintained that status since.

No letup in Toledo controversy over biosolids

Midwest, News, News Briefs

Toledo, Ohio — S&L Fertilizer, which took over all the city’s biosolids contracting in a controversial move by the city council late last year, is now being required by Ohio EPA to hire a consultant to assure there’s no leakage from the S&L processing site into Lake Erie and the Maumee River. “S&L will have two years to hire the consultant, develop testing and analysis procedures, and report back to the EPA,” reported Ohio EPA spokesperson Dina Pierce. Apparently Ohio EPA decided to take action due to numerous complaints received from N-VIRO, which lost the estimated $1 million a year biosolids contract to S&L, and city council members. N-VIRO complained to the Ohio EPA that the S&L site isn’t equipped to handle the volume of sludge. Councilman D. Michael Collins told Green Markets that Lake Erie constitutes over 20 percent of America’s freshwater supply, and is one of our country’s most valuable natural resources. Collins said he cares about maintaining the integrity of the area and is very concerned about the environmental impact of sewage sludge on the western basin of Lake Erie. According to Collins, the amount of sewer sludge going to the facility has increased to 50,000 tons each year, and the sludge is dumped on 70 acres of ground at Maumee Bay. Another 25,000 tons went to the landfill. “A consultant needs to perform an in-depth study for relationship between sewage sludge and algae blooms,” insisted Collins. The councilman has also demanded public records from port of authority, S&L, and the Ohio EPA. Dr. Robert Vincent has used satellite photography in the area, and reports an increase of algae bloom contamination over the past three years. In the fall of 2011, the city of Toledo had dual contracts with N-VIRO and S&L.

Truck firm fined for 2011 acid release

News, News Briefs, Northeast

Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $26,000 penalty against The Suttles Truck Leasing Co. for violating state hazardous waste management, industrial wastewater, and underground storage tank regulations. An inspection of the facility in April 2011 by MassDEP following a nitric acid release found the company in violation of hazardous waste requirements, including failure to notify the department of hazardous waste activity and of waste oil recycling, failure to comply with container management requirements, and storing waste oil longer than allowed. Other violations included operating a wastewater pre-treatment system without a licensed wastewater treatment operator, failure to keep inventory records for underground storage tanks on the property, and failure to comply with other underground storage tank requirements. A payment of $6,500 is being required, with the remainder being suspended if the company returns to compliance. In addition, MassDEP is requiring three supplemental environmental projects – at a cost of $19,500 – involving providing a thermal imaging unit for the Grafton Fire Department, $10,000 to help fund the Grafton’s Reverse 911 System, and emergency responder hazardous materials cargo tank training for up to 100 members of the Grafton, Upton, Oxford, and New Bedford fire departments. The nitric acid incident caused release of a vapor cloud and forced officials to evacuate the neighborhood, including the North Grafton Elementary School. Company officials blamed the release on employee error. The vapor cloud, which appeared to have a reddish tint, resulted when an employee mistakenly mixed four gallons of nitric acid with 20 gallons of wastewater in a 200-gallon container, Fire Chief Michael Gauthier said, explaining that nitric acid reacts violently when mixed with water.

Township protests erupt over biosolids

News, News Briefs, Northeast

Martins Creek, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reminding a group of protesters in Lower Mount Bethel that the state, and not local government, regulates biosolids for use as fertilizer. “DEP considers biosolids a safe and natural way for farmers to grow their crops,” Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator, told Green Markets. That may not be enough to convince those who consider biosolids – or what they call “sludge” – a danger to the community. Tempers flared recently after farmers in the area advised township supervisors of their plans to begin using biosolids, which would be provided free by Synagro. Residents said they were wary of the product being used in the area because of potential odor and environmental hazards. Actually, these complaints are not new to this area. A few years ago the township attempted to create an ordinance regulating the application of the fertilizer on farms, but lost its case in the state supreme court, where judges ruled that the authority rests with Pennsylvania DEP. Synagro spokeswoman Lisa Williams said the company would be open to attending a public forum to help ease concerns and would invite residents to tour a treatment plant. Connolly said DEP understands that there are instances of odors in Lower Mount Bethel, but those situations are exempt from regulations. “We investigate odors, but they are exempt under the provisions of the land use approval and can’t sanction the situation for the odor issue or take any action,” she pointed out.

Deficiencies cited in N-plant ammonia leak

Ammonia, California, News, News Briefs

Los Angeles — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has concluded that the lack of adequate procedural guidance for operations personnel led to the leak of a small amount of anhydrous ammonia last Nov. 1 at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station about 45 miles north of San Diego. The leak triggered an alert and the evacuation of about 50 of the plant’s 3,200 workers. A statement by the NRC’s Dallas regional office said that the operators failed to adequately identify, evaluate, and correct the problem in the water purification system, which led to the leak. The NRC report warned, "The failure to take adequate corrective actions for degraded plant equipment was a performance deficiency. The performance deficiency is more than minor because it resulted in an emergency alert.” It found that guidance was not provided to operations personnel to fix problem once it was detected in a tank. The relatively small ammonia leak that occurred on the non-nuclear side of Unit 3 at San Onofre was isolated and stopped, clean-up completed, and the affected area of the plant returned to normal in about three hours. Southern California Edison, which operates the plant, emphasized that there was no threat to worker or public health and safety.

No worries over ammonia in wastewater

Ammonia, Midwest, News, News Briefs

Spring Valley, Ill. — The city council has been advised not to be overly concerned about higher ammonia levels in Spring Valley’s treated wastewater. But, cautioned City Engineer Jack Kusek, the city’s not out of the woods yet. The good news, reported Kusek, is that none of the problems have been noted in the Illinois River near Spring Valley. “However, the city will have to do studies to prove its waste water will not harm the river,” he cautioned, noting that ammonia is basically a fertilizer that can make plant growth that shouldn’t be there, and can also make the water less conducive for fish life. The terms of the city’s new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit require keeping ammonia levels between 3.0 to 3.8 ppm, something the city has never previously needed to monitor. After discussions with representatives of Illinois EPA in Rockford, Kusek said the city needs to conduct studies over a period of months to receive an exception for the permit. Chuck Corley, state manager for water pollution control field operations, told Green Markets that EPA monitors ammonia levels in the river throughout the year on a monthly to quarterly basis. According to Corley, the ammonia levels are relatively low. “Most of the samples include ammonia nitrogen; however, the concentrations are low in comparison to other types of runoff.”

Nutrients for Life joins NASCAR sponsorship

Midwest, News, News Briefs

Springfield, Ill. — Brandt has announced that the Nutrients for Life Foundation joined the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet Ag car, driven by Justin Allgaier in the NASCAR Nationwide Series 250 at Richmond International Raceway. The Nutrients for Life Foundation joined The National FFA Organization, Precision Tank & Equipment, and Trademark Nitrogen as the fourth partner on the #31 Ag car, which Brandt said is an effort to build awareness of the critical contributions of agriculture to the world’s economy and food supply through the NASCAR Nationwide Series platform. “Our roots are in the fertilizer industry, and with foundations such as Nutrients for Life we can be assured a bright future,” said Brandt President and CEO Rick C. Brandt. “There are many misconceptions about fertilizer, and the Nutrients for Life Foundation does a wonderful job both in the classroom and in public educating on the benefits of fertilizers.” Allgaier joined members of Brandt and Nutrients for Life at a special classroom visit in the Richmond area with students who participated in a car design contest themed “Racing to Feed the World.” The winner was selected by Allgaier. “Crop nutrients are critically important to feeding the world and are essential not just to agriculture, but everyone,” said Harriett Wegmeyer, executive director of Nutrients for Life. “On a daily basis we work with students and educators across the country to inform them about crop nutrients and why we use them. Our partnership with Brandt helps to extend the reach of our message.”

Nichino enters agreement with Engage Agro

News, News Briefs

Wilmington, Del. — Crop protection products manufacturer Nichino America Inc. has announced an agreement with Engage Agro Corp., Guelph, Ont., that will expand Nichino’s business into Canada. Under the agreement, Engage Agro will register, market, and sell fenpyroximate, flutolanil, tolfenpyrad, and buprofezin pesticide products. Nichino’s company brands include Applaud, Centaur, Courier, FujiMite, Portal, Tourismo, and Vetica insecticides, ET herbicide/defoliant and Venue herbicide, and Artisan and Convoy fungicides. “This is the first opportunity for Nichino America to expand its business outside the United States, and this is an exciting alliance for us,” said Jeffrey Johnson, Nichino president. “We have a product portfolio of excellent chemistry, and this agreement will allow us to offer crop protection solutions in the Canadian marketplace.” With current development activities underway, Engage Agro anticipates the first commercial launches to begin in 2014. “We are excited to be working with Nichino America in bringing new products and technology to growers across Canada,” said Ray Chyc, president of Engage Agro.

PotashCorp donates $250,000 to Joplin

News, News Briefs

Joplin, Mo. — PCS Phosphate Co. Inc. (PotashCorp – Joplin), a subsidiary of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., announced July 2 that it has donated $250,000 to the Joplin Schools Foundation to help build a state-of-the-art learning center for Joplin’s high school and career/technical school. Both facilities were destroyed by a massive tornado on May 22, 2011. The disaster claimed the lives of 161 people including seven students and one staff member. Currently, more than 3,200 students attend school in temporary learning facilities as the tornado destroyed or significantly damaged 10 of Joplin’s 20 schools. The new facility is scheduled to open in August 2014. PotashCorp – Joplin owns and operates a feed phosphate operation in the small community of 50,000. On May 25, 2011, PotashCorp donated $500,000 to support disaster relief efforts in Joplin and matched PotashCorp employee donations. In addition, PotashCorp emergency response teams from Weeping Water (NB), Marseilles (IL), Cincinnati (OH) and Joplin facilities were immediately dispatched to assist local authorities in ongoing relief and rebuilding efforts which residents dubbed “Operation Rising Eagle.” “Despite the shock and pain of the tragedy, the people of Joplin demonstrated their courage and resilience by beginning the rebuilding process immediately,” said Bill Doyle, PotashCorp president and CEO . “This process continues, and the people of PotashCorp are proud to unite with residents in their brave efforts at re-establishing a thriving community with improved facilities for learning and community building.”

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