Pubdate: Tue, 19 Nov 2002
Source: Daily Comet (LA)
Copyright: 2002 Comet-Press Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://dailycomet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1505
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Author: Katina A. Gaudet, Staff Writer

SUSPECTS BEING SOUGHT IN ATTEMPTED THEFT OF AMMONIA

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for those responsible 
for an attempted theft early Monday that left a portion of South Lafourche 
evacuated and the area's main thoroughfares closed to traffic. Spokesmen 
for the Sheriff's Office and State Police say La. 1 and Bayou Lafourche 
were reopened to traffic about 10 a.m. Monday after an all-clear from the 
State Police's Hazardous Materials unit and the state Department of 
Environmental Quality.

At just after 4 a.m., State Police were notified of a possible chemical 
leak at a local shrimp shed, one that produced a cloud.

That leak turned out to be the result of a bungled attempt to steal 
anhydrous ammonia - a coolant used to keep shrimp frozen and a common 
ingredient in methamphetamines -- from Hubert Lafont Shrimp Shed just south 
of the Leon Theriot Floodgate in Golden Meadow.

Because of the leak, officials evacuated residents and businesses within a 
half-mile radius and closed traffic on La. 1 and Bayou Lafourche, resulting 
in a jam of traffic on the only highway south of Golden Meadow.

Larry Weidel, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said the attempted 
theft, while causing temporary problems for the area, did not result in any 
severe injuries.

The chemical - which officials say is not life threatening -- resulted in 
medical treatment for one firefighter who experienced skin irritation.

No other injuries were reported.

The condition of nearby vegetation - which experienced a "severe burn" - 
indicates the person attempting to steal the anhydrous ammonia could have 
experienced burns as well.

"We have contacted medical personnel and hospitals for anybody that might 
come in with that type of injury," said Weidel.

Detectives were able to lift fingerprints from the makeshift container 
brought in to receive the anhydrous ammonia.

About 200 gallons of anhydrous ammonia, all that was contained within the 
700-gallon tank, was released during the attempted theft, police say.

"They had converted a butane bottle to make it into a receptacle for this 
anhydrous ammonia, which didn't work very well," said Weidel, who added 
that the rubber hose that was attached to the main tank to retrieve the 
anhydrous ammonia had broken off.

"It looks pretty amateurish as far as the attempt," said Weidel. "He wasn't 
the smartest cookie in the box."

Detectives are questioning people in the area and looking through files for 
leads as to who might be responsible. They are also looking at similar 
events in other areas.

"There have been other anhydrous ammonia thefts in South Louisiana, and 
we're checking with other jurisdictions to see what their MOs were to 
determine if someone from outside the area might be responsible for this," 
said Weidel.

The closure of La. 1 - the only road leading to Grand Isle, Port Fourchon 
and offshore activity in the Gulf of Mexico - did have an affect on the 
local port, though officials say it is impossible to quantify it.

Port officials have estimated that the port's inability to operate for a 
day equals to an economic loss of about $50 million.

"That did not happen, however, because the port was able to operate," said 
port director Ted Falgout, who added that the effects hindered the overall 
operation of the port, and possibly the Gulf of Mexico, in terms of 
inefficient crew changes and delayed deliveries.

"It certainly was an eye-opener into what a major threat to the activity of 
the port that closures and storms present," he said.

Officials say the agencies involved - including law enforcement, local fire 
departments and other emergency responders, performed well under the pressure.

The effort was also aided by some good weather.

"I think it went smoothly," said State Police spokesman Trooper Matt 
Trahan. "Once the sun came up, it helped to evaporate the cloud."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager