TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Port Of Tampa Funds Repair Of Siren

ADVERTISEMENT

By RICH SHOPES

rshopes@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

TAMPA - The Port of Tampa will spend $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 Hooker's Point - will alert residents and port employees to any release of anhydrous ammonia.

The gas can burn skin and eyes and damage lungs.

Officials approved the expenditure during Tuesday's board meeting and stressed the public is not 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 handling anhydrous ammonia. In 1997, an areawide system that can be heard up to three miles away 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, often is used in metallurgy, refrigeration and the production of fertilizer and polymers.

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

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT