LOCAL NEWS | By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Representatives from a renewable fuels facility — Lynchburg Renewables owned by 3 Rivers Energy Partners – operating in Moore County addressed odor complaints Tuesday night, outlining corrective steps taken during the startup phase of their anaerobic digester system.
Officials explained that odors detected in the surrounding area were traced to stillage held too long in an open buffer tank during early operations. Because the facility was in its initial ramp-up phase, material remained in the tank longer than intended under normal operating conditions, allowing decomposition that produced strong odors.
To address the issue, operators said they drained the tank completely and restarted with fresh material, reduced operating levels to shorten retention time, and applied a chemical treatment designed to bind sulfur compounds. In addition, a mechanical mitigation system – consisting of an activated carbon filter and blower – was installed to capture and treat vapors from the tank’s headspace.
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Company representatives stressed that the affected tank is the only one on site open to the atmosphere and that the odor event was limited to startup conditions, which they do not expect to recur as the system stabilizes. Other tanks and lagoons are covered, with gases captured and routed into the biogas system or flared when necessary.
“We don’t want to be a nuisance,” Lynchburg Renewable’s Senior Project Engineer Mike Ordman told the crowd. “We’re committed to being a good neighbor.”
Questions were also raised about environmental oversight. Facility officials said operations are permitted through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) stormwater program and include weekly visual inspections. County officials added that routine water testing of nearby waterways is conducted through Metro Water and meets EPA requirements.
Committee members also received an update on fertilizer transport plans connected to the facility. While a long-term pipeline remains the goal, operators said they temporarily shifted to trucking after encountering difficulties securing easements along a proposed route – specifically between Moore County and Belvidere. Current trucking routes were selected to prioritize safety and avoid smaller rural roads.
Planning Committee Chair Dexter Golden encouraged the company to continue proactive communication with neighboring landowners and businesses, noting that while some impacts may not be countywide, nearby residents experience them most directly. Facility representatives stated they are committed to being good neighbors and to providing updates if operational changes occur.
The committee indicated that information shared during the meeting would be relayed to Metro Council and made available to the public as part of ongoing oversight.
The next Metro Planning Commission meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 3. To have an item added to the agenda, submit it to the Metro Codes Office 10 business day prior to that meeting. If you would like to be added to the agenda, contact the Metro Codes office at 931-759-7068. •
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