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Port Of Tampa Funds Repair Of Ammonia-Release Siren

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 17, 2009

TAMPA - Port of Tampa officials today approved spending $17,150 to repair a faulty siren, one of four to warn the port and nearby neighborhoods about an accidental release of ammonia gas.

Repairs to the siren at Kinder Morgan and Yara North America in the Port Sutton area will take about a month. Until then, three other sirens on Davis Islands, Palmetto Beach and Hookers Point will alert residents and port employees to any release of anhydrous ammonia.

The gas can burn skin and eyes and damage lungs.

Officials during a board meeting this morning stressed that the public was never in danger.
"No one is at risk," Tampa Port Authority Director Richard Wainio said.

A warning system was installed in the mid-1990s at the port to sound an alarm for facilities handing anhydrous ammonia. In 1997, an areawide system that can be heard up to three miles was installed.

If an alert occurs, an announcement will follow with instructions about evacuation procedures and area shelters.

Officials say the siren was knocked off its pole during bad weather a month ago.

Anhydrous ammonia, a liquid when compressed or cooled, is often used in metallurgy, refrigeration and the production of fertilizer and polymers.

Three port facilities handle the chemical: CF Industries, Yara North America and Kinder Morgan.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at rshopes@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7633.

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