Question 1

What is AMS?

Accepted Answer

AMS is an odorless, water soluble, non-flammable, and non-explosive granular solid.

Question 2

How is AMS made?

Accepted Answer

AMS is an inorganic sulfate salt obtained by reacting 1-part sulfuric acid with 2-parts ammonia.

Question 3

How is AMS used?

Accepted Answer

AMS is widely used as a crop nutrient fertilizer that provides both nitrogen and sulfur needed for plant proteins. In recent years, AMS obtained additional uses in industrial applications to include municipal drinking water treatment plants, animal feed, food additives, fire retardants, and cleaning products.

Question 4

Why is this proposed project needed?

Accepted Answer

Over the last two decades, the US has relied heavily on the importation of foreign produced fertilizers. A significant percentage of the crop nutrients utilized in the USA today are imported from places like Russia, Ukraine, and China. The lack of domestically produced fertilizer has become a food security and national security issue for our country.

Question 5

Why select the CEP site?

Accepted Answer

The feedstocks (ammonia and sulfuric acid) needed for AMS production are already on-site at CEP. The CEP site provides efficient transportation access to the Mississippi River and five Class I railroads.

Question 6

Why select Jefferson Parish?

Accepted Answer

The proposed project represents a significant investment in Jefferson Parish, a reliable source of crop nutrients for Louisiana and American farmers, creates good-paying jobs, and reduces reliance on foreign suppliers.

Question 7

Who is APF?

Accepted Answer

A privately held company that has been in the fertilizer business for more than 60 years. APF’s headquarters is in Galena Park, TX. APF has ten dry-blending fertilizer facilities in Texas and markets essential plant nutrients to all 48 states in the lower USA. Seventy-five percent of the AMS used by Louisiana sugar cane and rice farmers is supplied by APF.

Question 8

What makes APF different from other fertilizers producers?

Accepted Answer

APF was the first company in the south to employ “dirt doctors” to analyze growers' soil and plant samples to formulate prescription blends for specific crops, soil types, and climate.

Question 9

Who is CCC?

Accepted Answer

CCC has operated in Jefferson Parish for almost 70 years. The site was built originally by American Cyanamid; the plant was spun off to Cytec Industries in 1993. In 2011, Cytec sold the melamine, acrylonitrile, and sulfuric acid units, and the business was renamed Cornerstone Chemical Company.

Question 10

What products does CCC currently manufacture at the CEP?

Accepted Answer

Today, the facility manufactures acrylonitrile, melamine, sulfuric acid, and urea.

Question 11

Does the proposed project negatively affect the environment?

Accepted Answer

No. For decades, CCC disposed of a waste stream from the acrylonitrile plant in permitted deep wells. APF’s AMS production process will recycle this waste stream, and the proposed project will increase sustainability of the CEP site and benefit the environment.

Question 12

Does the proposed project increase the carbon footprint?

Accepted Answer

Domestic production of AMS eliminates the carbon footprint from vessels that deliver imported fertilizer from foreign producers and reduces the overall carbon footprint for AMS production.

Question 13

Is the process or the proposed facilities noisy?

Accepted Answer

No. The fertilizer storage buildings and existing tree line will act as a sound barrier. Most of the truck loading and rail loading will be done in the area between the existing plant and fertilizer storage buildings, away from the near neighbors. The batture is currently used for barge fleeting operations; therefore, the proposed barge dock will not significantly change the amount of noise from marine operations.

Question 14

Is the process or the proposed facilities dusty?

Accepted Answer

No. The AMS conveyor systems are enclosed, and conveyor transfer points are contained within sided transfer towers. AMS is stored in buildings, and all loading systems are equipped with state-of-the-art dust control systems. APF’s proposed facilities qualify as a minor source air permit.

Question 15

Is there any odor during the process?

Accepted Answer

No. The AMS production process and handling facilities do not produce or generate any odors.

Question 16

Is the production process and the proposed facility safe?

Accepted Answer

CCC has safely operated in Jefferson Parish for almost 70 years. AMS is a non-flammable, non-hazardous, odorless, and non-explosive granular solid that is safe to handle and store on the systems proposed.

Question 17

Does the proposed facility create any traffic problems?

Accepted Answer

No. Fertilizer shipments are seasonal, prior to spring planting season and after fall harvest season. The maximum truck traffic frequency is approximately 3 to 5 trucks per hour during fertilizer season and approximately 2 to 3 trucks per hour during the fertilizer off season. Truck operations are during daylight hours only.

Question 18

Is the CEP site currently zoned for the proposed project?

Accepted Answer

The CEP site is zoned M2-Heavy Industrial. The AMS production plants are within the current M2 area. The APF terminal site is currently zoned R2. CCC and APF will apply to Jefferson Parish to rezone the terminal area through their normal re-zoning process.

Question 19

Will the proposed project require new permits?

Accepted Answer

The APF portion of the project will require a new air permit. The AMS production facility and terminal are planned to be a minor source air permit. The proposed project will also include a new USACE Section 10, Section 401, Section 404, and Section 408 permits.

Question 20

Will the proposed project require amending any existing permits?

Accepted Answer

CCC will amend their current environmental permits as applicable, to include the stream recycling portion of the project.

Question 21

How many construction jobs?

Accepted Answer

Over the 18-month construction period, APF anticipates an average of 220+ construction jobs will be created having an average annual salary of more than $85,000.

Question 22

How many permanent full-time local jobs?

Accepted Answer

Phase 1 operations will create 28 new permanent full-time local jobs, to include 13 full-time direct jobs and 15 full-time contractor jobs with an average annual salary of more than $120k.  Additional hiring is anticipated as the project progresses to future phases.

Question 23

Will CCC and APF be hiring locally?

Accepted Answer

CCC has a strong record of hiring and training local employees at CEP. APF committed to continue CCC’s tradition of training and hiring local employees.

Question 24

Will APF use local suppliers and vendors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. CCC and APF plan to have a reverse trade show, where local vendors, contractors, and suppliers can learn how to contract with both CCC and APF. This reverse trade show will allow local vendors, contractors, and suppliers to meet with the procurement teams from both CCC and APF.

Question 25

Is the community aware of this proposed project?

Accepted Answer

APF has been fully engaged with the local community, community stakeholders, and Jefferson Parish Officials. CCC and APF presented the project starting in May 2022 and continues to attend regular association meetings to update near neighbors, local community groups, local civic associations, and organizations on the current status of the project; on updates to the project's phasing, permitting, schedule; and to answer any questions or concerns presented.

Question 26

Is the proposed facility like a grain elevator?

Accepted Answer

No. The AMS is not dusty, flammable, or explosive; and therefore, the proposed project is not like an export grain elevator. The annual throughput volume for the proposed project is much lower than a typical export grain elevator.

Question 27

Are there other similar fertilizer facilities on the Lower River?

Accepted Answer

No, not currently.

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