Ammonia leak capped, evacuation order lifted, U.S. 301 reopened

Workers remove barriers for the reopening of U.S. 301. [Chris Zuppa | Times]

RIVERVIEW - The ammonia leak along the Alafia River here has been capped and an evacuation order was lifted at 12:15 p.m. U.S. 301 was reopened to traffic at 12:47 p.m.

The leak was capped at 7:30 a.m., said Hillsborough Fire Rescue Capt. Bruce Delk.

All residents can now return home, he said. About 300 people were evacuated, officials said, though a firm number is elusive.

Also, the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the Alafia River to all boat traffic.

The leak, which authorities say was caused by a teenager drilling for money that wasn't there, meant considerable time for public agencies but a firm estimate has not been made. The county will seek repayment from the Tampa Pipeline Corp., which owns the line, said Hillsborough Fire Rescue Chief Bill Nesmith.

The results of air and  water quality samples taken by county Environmental Protection Commission weren't immediately available. But U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Benjamin Franco said there was "no visible damage to the river."

-- Casey Cora and S.I. Rosenbaum, Times staff writers

Comments

[Alex Carr]

How about holding the jackass that caused the damage responsible….

[MELISSA]

Yeah!! Finally this story will be out of the news!

[L. Ranger]

Alex has a good point, this was not an industrial "accident" it was a deliberate act of vandalism and destruction of private property by the teenager. Even if he did not know the ammonia was in the pipe he was trying to steal the money he thought was there. This is a criminal act with criminal intent. Arrest the purp and make him and his parents pay restitution.
In the early sixties at age 15 i set off a large homemade firecracker in the street that blew a hole in the street and knocked out the windows of a couple of houses. i wasnt arrested but told i would be prosecuted if i didnt pay for the house and street repairs. i spent all my summer vacation and a year of after school at minimum wage cleaning up house construction sites until the debt was paid in full. i kept my part-time job and by graduation had my own car and apartment. Have been gainfully employed ever since and have a healthy respect for the properties of others. Letting this kid go and making the Pipeline company pay for his mischief wont teach him any lesson except irresposibility.