Teens chose most vulnerable part of pipeline

Houston specialty welder Mike Clark, center with white ball cap, measures a gate before he installs it to help stop the leak in the ammonia pipeline. [Skip O'Rourke | Times]

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RIVERVIEW -- Three teenage boys chose the most vulnerable part of a 30-mile ammonia pipeline to drill into, said the man who manages the pipeline.

The pipeline runs from Port Sutton to Polk County and is largely underground or protected by a steel outer sheath. But under the U.S. 301 bridge over the Alafia River, a single eight-foot section is vulnerable to tampering.

That's where noxious gas leaked out Monday night, prompting the evacuation of more than 3,000 homes and injuring five firefighters.

Why isn't that section protected?

"There's no requirements for it," said Glenn Howell, who manages the pipeline for Tampa Pipeline Corp.

It's been that way since 1981 "without anybody breaking into it,'' Howell said. "The homeless sleep under that bridge every night. The way I look at it, somebody in his right mind is not gonna go drill a hole in a pipe."

But that's exactly what authorities say a 16-year-old and two other teenagers did Monday. Sheriff's officials are pursuing felony charges against the 16-year-old who drilled a small hole into the pipeline, said HIllsborough sheriff's Lt. Kyle Cockream. A drill was found at the scene, authorities said.

If the 16-year-old gets criminally charged, legal experts said prosecutors could seek restitution from him for the costs of cleanup and law enforcement's time. But it would be nearly impossible to hold his parents financially responsible because they are not charged with a crime.

"Generally, in any case where juveniles are charged, parents cannot be forced to be pay the restitution,” Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said.

The boy was badly burned over 18 percent of his body and is in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital, authorities said. The boy, whose name has not been released, could face state and federal charges because of the serious nature of the crime and the public hazard posed by the ammonia cloud, said Cockream.

As of about 2:30 p.m. today, one to two miles of the pipeline still contained ammonia that was seeping out of the hole, said Hillsborough Fire Rescue Capt. Bruce Delk.

Last night, officials thought only about 200 feet of pipe still had ammonia. That's because they thought an automatic shutoff valve closed when the leak occurred.

A drop in pressure in the pipeline activates that shutoff, but Delk said today that the pressure in the pipeline was already so low before the puncture that it did not automatically trigger the shutoff valve. Ammonia flowed through a much larger area for hours before authorities realized it.

Mike Clark, a specialized special welder flown in from Houston, began working on the the pipe about 100 feet away from the leak. He began installing a valve that will reduce the amount of ammonia left in the pipe. Once the ammonia has been drained, the hole can be repaired.

The gas has been reduced to a small vapor, but "It's still a very dangerous situation,'' Delk said.

Delk said he hopes to know by 10 p.m. tonight when repairs are finished and residents can return home.

Meanwhile, Hillsborough County environmental officials are awaiting the results of water and nutrient samples taken this morning.

Watson said officials with the Environmental Protection Commission haven't been able to get close enough to assess actual air and water damage near the leak, but said samples were taken downstream this morning. Those results are expected later today.

Efforts to stem the leak failed over night and could be sometime Wednesday hours before the leak is stopped, officials said.

More than 3,000 homes within a half-mile of the leak were ordered evacuated, but was later reduced to a quarter-mile. Some families have returned home.

An emergency shelter set up at Riverview Elementary had seven evacuees early this morning, but all have since left. A new shelter opened at Simmons Loop Baptist Church, 6610 Simmons Loop Rd., Riverview.

"The majority from what we hear have gone to stay with family or friends,'' said Holly Wade, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Emergency Management.

The Red Cross is sending workers with snacks and cold water for evacuees and emergency workers.

Just south of the leak, Tampa Pipeline workers are installing a valve and six-inch pipeline into the system.

Connecting those pieces, though, will require a highly-specialized weld. For that, contractor was flown in.

The injured teen remains at Tampa General Hospital. His family declined to speak with reporters.

Meanwhile, agents from local environmental agencies have taken to the water to begin testing conditions in the Alafia River, just west of the leak. The river has been closed to boat traffic since Monday.

Workers with Tampa Bay Pipeline Corp. and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue are trying to patch the leak but to do so, they must wait until the pressure within the pipe is reduced.

Authorities ordered the evacuation and school officials closed three schools as efforts to cap Monday's ammonia leak continue.

Four firefighters were treated for respiratory problems. All were treated and released.

The Alafia Mobile Park with 25 homes is at the southwest corner of U.S. 301 and the Alafia River. Hillsborough school officials announced that Riverview Elementary School will be closed today. Two private schools, Children's first and Center Academy also closed today.

Meanwhile, Fire Rescue officials say they are dispersing the leak by spraying large quantities of water.

The evacuation forced road closures that are causing major traffic jams. U.S. 301 will remain closed from Gibsonton Drive to Riverview Drive. A major backup has developed on Boyette Road as commuters seek alternate routes. Officials are recommending U.S. 41 and Interstate 75 as alternate routes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will assess environmental damage today.

Check Riverview traffic reports.

-- Thomas Lake, Casey Cora and Melanie Ave, Times staff writers

Photo; Water is being pumped onto the Alafia River to dissipate the ammonia cloud. Click to enlarge photo. [Skip O'Rourke | Times]

Comments

[FG]

"Kids looking for money"!!! Maybe if they got jobs, instead of contributing to global warming, in their spare time .... none of this would have happend!!! GEEEEZZZ!!!

Money hidden in a pipeline? That is a ridiculous excuse. Sentence them to jail!

[hoshi]

I am hoping that these parents are going to be responsible for repaying some of our tax dollars that are being spent to contain this leak and the public services that are being affected by this very stupid behavior. I do not care that they were looking for money, they damaged property that did not belong to them and need to be punished and held liable. This is called "TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN" folks. I think jail is a bit extreme but they must have some consequence to their actions.

Don't tell investigators are falling for the money story when they know that ammonia is used to make meth.

[Bland]

Folks there is money in those pipes. The ammonia has a large street value as one of the basic ingredients for crystal meth.

There is more to this story. I wonder if this is gang related?

Is this the same kind of ammonia that you buy in grocery stores??? If so...wouldn't it have been easier to just go and buy some?

Don't they use ammonia during the creation of Meth?

[Mike]

Would someone please tell me what the purpose of this pipe containing a highly toxic substance is?

[zippy]

No doubt total B.S. - looking for money. Looking to make meth to make money. Off to jail and have their parents pay for this mess.

[Dani]

the pipeline is used by cargill to make fertilizer

Thank you Dani...because lord knows I had no idea, what they would use this for!

Thank you Dani...because lord knows I had no idea, what they would use this for!

[captn obvious]

this happened in 2004, except the guy admitted to wanting to use the pipe to make meth. stupid.

[Mrs Wasn't born yesterday ....]

C,mon who we kiddin' they were gonna use it for Meth!!

See ...when the cops need to suspect people are lying they never do!

Gee, I didn't think America had any drug or other social problems.

[TJ]

I'd hardly call busting an ammonia pipe a social problem!!

[ds]

Looking for money? Clearly these kids have been affected by the drugs that they are making. How stupid do they think most people really are? Hoshi has it right!

[Pete]

No one has mentioned the environmental effects yet, the cost to fish and wildlife. Add that to the tally these boys must be held responsible for.

[Bob]

Send the kids parents the bill for cleanup, and repair.

[Harley]

The kids a freakin moron. He was trying to make meth!!!!

[Kaylee Smith]

I like meth!

[Kaylee Smith]

I was kidding. I meant that the kid likes meth. He needs to be sent to counseling. People that do meth are retarded anyways.

[harley morgan]

IM GAY IHATE MYSELF AND I LOVE TONS OF METH>I HATE THE WORLD FOREVER!!!! and kaylee smith is super dupper awesome!

[Kasura]

Wow, we're pretty stupid if someone thinks that they mean store bought ammonia. Use your brains people. They were obviously wanting to use it for their METH NEEDS. Duh?? It's probably gang related too, if you really think ABOUT IT. Why is america so stupid all of a sudden????

i SOO DONT LIKE METH!!!!

[Tim]

Isn't "retarded" a little harsh ?? I mean he was smart enough to drill a hole in the pipe...It all went South after that but at least give him a LITTLE credit !!!

GEESH !!!

I think "Moron" fits him better

[Kasura]

And you do know that we are now publicized in bad ways thanks to METH abusers, in TWO different occasions. NICE. I really can't believe that the police are believing this "I was looking for money" BS. Come on.

[Kasura]

I think retarded is a perfect description, thankyouverymuch.

[Paul]

What amazes me isn't that the kids broke the pipe... but that all these people on here know that you can make meth with it. How do you know that? I don't even know anybody who knows anybody with that kind of knowledge. Baffling. Let the kids overdoes on whatever it is they want and society will be better off.

[Skyla]

Why give him credit for drilling a hole into a pipe that leaks a DEADLY GAS??? Do you want the world to decay faster than it already is???

[Skyla]

I totally agree Paul.

[me]

Paul& skyla,

Your both idiots ...because the authorities originally said the kids did this for Meth, and then changed the story to say it was for money! I guess you 2 were living under a rock at the time.

[myself]

me is correct. The other article states that the police thought that and questioned them. Supposedly the kids went home to talk to their parents before notifying authorities. Geez. I wonder what would have happened if these same little einsteins would have talked to their parents BEFORE they drilled the pipe. This country is going to h*ll because we don't hold anyone accountable for their actions anymore.

[Art]

Lmfao looking to make meth to get money thats plain above human retardation,they were probably high too
on METH!!!!!! prosecute them and find their lab too

[RiverviewResident]

Where are the environmentalists when we need them? All the fish and creatures near the river are going to die because of the ammonia run off into the Alafia River now. This is the 3rd such ammonia leak in Riverview THIS YEAR. And yes it is being done by meth-heads most of the time. Something has to be done to better secure the pipelines. Not putting labels on them that say AMMONIA PIPELINE HERE! (yes there are signs!) would be a start! Duh!

[Donna]

Why should the parents pay for thieir children's poor decisions. Parents can not, repeat can not, keep track of their children 24/7 - I tried!!! Unfortunately, our children's friends have more influence over them then we do. They should be punished and jail time is a solution - let them get drug treatment in jail. This was a serious offense and they should receive a serious punishment but NOT THE PARENT!!!

Where was the parent and teachers? Couldn't the homeless of stopped them in their quest for redemption? Where were the social workers? Where was the local preacher (the guy with all the answers)?

[Kenneth]

Maybe we should celebrate the fact that the kids were doing something outside. Sounds like regular mischief to me - the type you and I were guilty of as kids. They just got a bit unlucky.

[hoshi]

DONNA: Because the parents are responsible for their childrens actions - I once caught my son blowing up coke bottles with fire crackers and called the police and the fire department on him. Needless to say he never did anything like that again and now he is 24 and has never been in trouble. It is the parents job to teach right from wrong. You have to take charge which is the problem, oh poor me the parent, it isn't my fault.

So it sounds like these kids are going to get off with no consequences. Yeah, let's teach them right from wrong - even if their story about an urban legend is true - they damaged property that did not belong to them and crippled a city. So we the taxpayers will pick up the bill and they will become celeb's for their actions. What a nation.

[what!!!]

Hey Kenneth,

Yeah its all coming back to me now!! Remember that time when we kids Burst an ammonia pipeline,....and mutilated 9 pigs on a farm, and vandalized a church and broke out all the windows,and stole from our parents,and did crack!! whatever kenneth ...this isn't normal mischief! K These kids,,,and kids like these, are just Hellyans!!

[osiicks]

It is very common to use anhydrous ammonia to make crystal meth.

[osiicks]

There will not likely be any effect on the environment. Anhydrous ammonia is toxic if inhaled in heavy concentration and can damage the lining of the lungs.

The fertilizer company should hire and post guards for every 20 feet of their pipeline. I never knew such hazardous materials were piped right under our noses. Bet the fish'n l' stink for a while.

[someguyinstpete]

You seem to be assuming that the parents of these kids are angels- they're probably meth heads themselves. Also, is the Lt's name really Cockream?...ouch...

[Deb]

I'd be willing to bet these kids have gotten into trouble before. What they did caused major problems, etc. and they need to be held responsible. No slap on the hand.

[john]

okay, so we have an unprotected section of pipe, a pipe that isn't able to meet the safety set-ups in place, "not enough pressure in the line to allow a shut off valve to work properly". For all the stupidity of a 16 year old what about the stupidity of 40 and 50 year olds that allow this potetial problem to exist. If someone knew it was a problem but, and only because it had never been exposed as a problem regardless of whether it was that way since 1981 or not it should have been fixed. Could some other problem with the bridge have broken the pipe? Maybe a strong storm and flood, I know those never happen in Florida, and a tree or other debris being pushed down the river could have broken the pipe with similar results. Okay, so someones child is suffering for stupidty. But, adults looking the other way, I think the boys family should file suit against Tampa Pipeline and Mr Howell for negligence. Why should we worry about what is the right way to do things if there isn't and requirement or law for it?

[Kenneth]

C'mon "What!!!" - these kids busted a pipe, they didn't mutilate animals. It just happened to be a pipe filled with a toxic gas - it's not like they knew that. These were just kids being kids - doing stupid things is part of growing up. I stand by my statement - this was just juvenile mischief - it wasn't a deliberate crime.

If a kid opens a neighbors gate to get a football, and the neighbors dog gets out, runs across the road, and causes a giant multi-car accident, do you throw the kid in jail (and his parents) for involuntary manslaughter?

[Rubber Duck]

Just think you have to have a driver licens to drive a car but you dont have to have a licens to have kids
why do we let people like this breed and have kids

[Derlis Molinero]

I hope he dies.

Maybe if Hillsborough wouldn't spend so much on Bayshore drive and a little more on ridding their obviously ailing community of Meth dealers/makers these problems wouldn't happen.

If the longest sidewalk or Ybor had been affected I know Hillsborough government would have done something about it!

[reality]

Funny how suddenly everyone knows exactly what motivated these kids to do what they did. Stop twisting the facts like TV has taught you and try thinking before you type! Granted these kids are definitely guilty of some major juvenile mischief, but here's a thought...Let all of the facts fall before initiating a witch-hunt filled with accusations that haven't been backed up (i.e meth, gangs, etc...). Someone's kid is in the hospital for Gods sake....

[Teen school]

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