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May 14, 2023

Dyno Nobel installs boiler without permit approval, angering local residents, officials

The Cornerstone Chemical Co. plant in Waggaman, La. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019.

The Cornerstone Chemical Co. plant in Waggaman, La. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019.

Officials and residents in Jefferson Parish are looking for answers after an ammonia manufacturer located at the Cornerstone chemical plant in Waggaman admitted to constructing a $26 million, natural-gas powered boiler without first obtaining the required state and local permits.

Dyno Nobel, a tenant at the Cornerstone Chemical Company's 800-acre facility, fessed up to prematurely building the boiler in a March 17 letter to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

Despite that admission, neither Dyno Nobel nor DEQ mentioned that the boiler had been built when regulators held a hearing on March 21 to gather input from the public on the permit that would allow construction on the project to move forward.

"From my point of view, it's extremely disturbing," said Parish Council member Deano Bonano. "It's destroyed any efforts that Cornerstone or Dyno Nobel have made to build public trust."

Dyno Nobel applied to DEQ for a modified air permit in June, and the agency's approval was a requirement for the construction of a cogeneration boiler to power its ammonia production facility at Cornerstone.

With the permit still pending, Dyno Nobel installed piles in August, poured a foundation in September and mounted the boiler in November, according to the company's letter to DEQ.

In a statement, Dyno Nobel said it never intended to operate the boiler without first obtaining the DEQ permit.

Tom Yura, chief operating officer of Cornerstone, said in a statement that his company wasn't aware that Dyno Nobel had not obtained its proper permits until March 24 — a week after it sent its letter to DEQ.

"As a tenant at the Cornerstone Energy Park, Dyno Nobel's lack of compliance falls far short of the compliance goals we require of our tenants, and we are taking this matter very seriously," Yura wrote.

It's unclear what consequences Dyno Nobel will face from state regulators. A spokesperson for DEQ did not respond to a list of questions.

State Sen. Patrick Connick, who represents Waggaman, said he plans to grill DEQ the next time they’re scheduled to appear before a state legislative committee.

Jefferson Parish last week issued a notice of violation to Cornerstone and Dyno Nobel for building the boiler without amending its Special Permitted Use application with the parish, as is required.

Lisa Karlin, a River Ridge resident active among those concerned about safety and air-quality around the Cornerstone facility, said she worries that without consequences, other industries may start building before obtaining the proper permits.

"If I built a shed in my backyard and it's not property permitted, the parish can make me tear it down," added Nancy Pearson, president of the River Ridge Community Association, who spoke against granting the permit at last month's meeting.

Cornerstone, which has owned the 800-acre facility on the west bank since 2011, has drawn increased scrutiny from the community in recent years due to an explosion, spills, discharges and a failed bid to upgrade its cyanide production plant, an operation many residents were not aware existed so close to their homes.

"I don't blame the citizens for not believing anything that Cornerstone or Dyno Nobel states about what's happening at their facility as they move forward," Bonano said.

Bonano called on Dyno Nobel and Cornerstone to hold a public meeting to "explain why they did it."

"The people of this parish deserve answers," Bonano said.

Email Blake Paterson at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @blakepater

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