TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Port To Fix Chemical Alarm

ADVERTISEMENT

By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: March 13, 2009

TAMPA - One of four sirens to alert the Port of Tampa and adjacent neighborhoods of an uncontrolled release of anhydrous ammonia is inoperative and must be replaced, port officials said Thursday.

The officials said that until the siren at the Kinder Morgan and Yara North America site in the Port Sutton area of the port is repaired, sirens on Davis Islands, Palmetto Beach and Hooker's Point will provide protection to residents and port employees.

"In no way is there any new risk to anyone," port operations director Steve Felder said in an e-mail. "The facilities can activate all or one siren in the system and there are specific protocols in place at each terminal on how and when to activate the siren system. Palmetto Beach and Davis Islands have fully functioning sirens that can be activated should it be required."

A warning system was installed in the mid-1990s to sound an alarm for about a mile around facilities handling anhydrous ammonia, which can burn skin and eyes and affect the lungs.

In 1997 the port installed an areawide system that can be heard for up to three miles. It also created a neighborhood outreach program to educate neighborhood and civic groups, schools and office complexes on the risks of an uncontrolled release of the chemical.

The siren was knocked from its pole in the southeast area of the port during bad weather about three weeks ago. Replacement could take five weeks, port officials said. The recommended repair bid is $17,150 and will be considered at Tuesday's monthly port authority meeting.

Three port facilities handle anhydrous ammonia: CF Industries, Yara North America and Kinder Morgan.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT