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Pipeline Leak Is D.C. Topic

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U.S. 301 remains blocked in both directions as emergency workers wait for an ammonia leak to dissipate.

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By Mike Wells and Billy House of The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2007

Updated: 11/14/2007 12:04 pm

Video: Wednesday Morning Update | Evacuees Review Options | Underground Pipes Cross Bay Area

More Information:
Dangerous Treasure Hunt Turns Into Costly Fiasco
Bay Area's Multiple Pipelines Often Vulnerable
No River Damage Seen From Ammonia

Photo Gallery | Map Of The Area

WASHINGTON – Rep. Gus Bilirakis wants information from federal transportation officials about security surrounding the nation's 160,000 miles of aging pipelines that carry gasoline and other hazardous liquids.

During a congressional hearing this morning, the Palm Harbor Republican said he is seeking that information as a teenager stands accused of drilling into an anhydrous ammonia pipeline Riverview on Monday.

The chemical that escaped through the punctured line formed a toxic cloud that led officials to order an evacuation of 3,700 homes near the U.S. 301 bridge over the Alafia River.

Bilirakis took advantage of the Homeland Security Committee hearing to tell Edmond "Kip" Hawley, the assistant secretary of the Transportation Security Administration, that he will be seeking details about pipeline security.

"I want to let you know that I'm going to be contacting the TSA about the security of these pipelines, especially in the Tampa Bay area, and the role TSA is playing in their inspections and security," Bilirakis said.

"I hope that will direct the appropriate officials under your direction to take this matter very seriously," Bilirakis said.

There was no immediate response from Hawley.

Bilirakis spokesman John Tomaszewski said a letter will be sent to TSA officials today with specific questions.

Meanwhile, the leak from an exposed section of pipeline under the Alafia River has been plugged, U.S. 301 has been reopened, the Coast Guard has cleared the river for boat traffic and the evacuation order for the Riverview area has been lifted.

A welding expert who was flown in from Houston and emergency crews have capped the 6-inch steel pipe, which is owned by Tampa Pipeline Corp, said Hillsborough County Fire Rescue battalion chief Ron Powell at a news conference this morning.

The lag between then and lifting of the evacuation order was to allow the liquid anhydrous ammonia in the pipe to dissipate.

Liquid anhydrous ammonia turns to gas when exposed to air.

"We're working to contain the released product," Powell said this morning. "Everything that can be done has been done."

Firefighters had continued to arc jets of water over the bridge to help contain the ammonia cloud.

For a second day, Riverview Elementary, The Center Academy and Children's First Academy were closed. Parents of Riverview Elementary students were allowed to drop off their children at Spoto High School.

Also affected was First Baptist Church, at 8626 U.S. 301 S., which canceled services and activities for tonight, said the Rev. Chris Keathly.

Not all residents obeyed the evacuation order, which was lifted just after noon today.

John Werner says nobody knocked on his door to warn him that he needed to get out of his Moody Road home because of a dangerous ammonia leak, he said today.

When he walked outside Tuesday morning, he thought it odd that his neighborhood of 25 years was so quiet and empty – and then there was that smell, he said. So he started walking.

He stopped when he saw emergency vehicles and a responder asked him why he was in the restricted area, Werner said. "I said I live here. And he said, 'Well, you can't be here,' " Werner said. "Then he told me, 'If you leave, you can't go back in.' So I stayed."

Werner and his wife, Pamela Jill, had stayed all week in their log cabin with their dog. "We've got food in the house. We've got bottled water, and we've had no problem," he said. "There's been no odor that I can detect since Monday."

Werner talked about the situation today with neighbor Patti Dickerson, who also refused to evacuate. Dickerson smelled the ammonia Monday, and from her riverside dock on Bridgewood Drive she saw its origin. "It looked like clouds sitting on the river, just resting there," she said.

No residents thought to stay in the emergency shelter set up by the Red Cross at Simmons Loop Baptist Church, said shelter coordinator Pamela Bartley. The organization will shut down the site at noon today and will place it on standby.

Vanessa Barrios, who lives in the same neighborhood west of the bridge as Werner and Dickerson, said she and her 4-year-old daughter had been staying with her parents in Valrico since the leak.

Her daughter, Natassja Gabell, was "ecstatic" about the sleepover; Barrios was less than thrilled.

She learned of the evacuation as she was driving home from work Monday. A deputy used his patrol car to block the road in front of her. She asked what had happened and told the deputy she lived a block away. He allowed her to go to her house, but another deputy quickly knocked on her door. "The cop with a facemask on was telling me I had to go," Barrios said. "I was like, 'Great. Do you have one of those for us?' I had maybe 10-15 minutes to collect enough clothes for three days."

She didn't waste any time she said, recalling the itchy feeling in the back of her throat from the gas. "I'm annoyed more than angry, she said of the inconvenience caused by the leak. I have a child, and I only had time to pick out certain things. I'm already running out of clothes."

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue workers concluded by checking the area for residual ammonia and turning the site over to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to process as a crime scene.

Investigation of pipeline damage attributed to the 16-year-old boy is ongoing, and no charges have been filed, sheriff's Lt. Mark Corso said.

The boy suffered ammonia burns to almost 20 percent of his body.

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