The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation allows polluters to hang up their shingle in our community even though Loudon County continues to violate federal ozone and fine particulate matter regulations; go figure! 

Recently, the Loudon County Air Quality Task Force decided not to take a stand and request a permit hearing for English owned Tate & Lyle and DuPont. Tate and Lyle was reducing its overall hazardous air pollutants while increasing its Acetaldehyde emissions. The task force seemed to think that since the increase in Acetaldehyde was not significant that it would not take a stand in requesting a permit hearing.

As I recall, the air quality task force was created by local government at the urging of Loudon County Economic Development Agency (EDA) to squelch opposition when polluters permits came up for renewal by TDEC and to look into air quality issues.  The polluters were getting tired of hearing from local residents complaining about the pollution and odorous emissions from nearby polluting plants, at permit time. It seems like the air quality task force has come full circle. The committee is comprised of the three biggest polluters, local county and cities government officials, TDEC, and three citizens appointed by local government and one physician. The task force serves in an advisory capacity to local government.    

For more information about Acetaldehyde http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/acetalde.html