Maintenance at site of 2007 ammonia leak

RIVERVIEW - Tampa Bay Pipeline is performing maintenance on a pipeline that was the site of a massive ammonia leak two years ago.

Work is underway to replace a valve on an ammonia pipe on the north side of the Alafia River and U.S. 301.

To replace the valve, crews will shut down the pipeline, and will flare off excess ammonia beginning Tuesday morning.

As a precaution, the sidewalk on Highway 301 between Palmetto Street and Riverview Drive will be closed.

Tampa Bay Pipeline, which is replacing the valve, described the work as routine maintenance, and said U.S. 301 will stay open.

The work is scheduled to continue through Thursday.

In July of 2007, a teenager drilled into the ammonia pipeline, thinking there was money hidden inside. The pipe burst open, creating an ammonia leak so large, it shut down U.S. 301 and caused hundreds to be evacuated from nearby homes while crews tried to contain it. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue dumped more than six and a half million gallons of water on the pipe to keep it from forming an ammonia cloud.