Pubdate: Wed, 26 Feb 2003
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Timothy Boone
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CHEMICAL SECURITY BECOMING MAJOR ISSUE ON COAST

Richard Gollott never thought he would have to spend more than $6,000 and 
hire a full-time security guard to keep people from stealing anhydrous 
ammonia from his Biloxi seafood packing company.

"That was the least of my worries," said Gollott, vice president of Golden 
Gulf Coast Packing Co. on Bayview Avenue. "The ammonia tank is on top of a 
plant building. It's hard enough to get up there just to take care of the 
valves. To climb up there and steal is just insanity."

Anhydrous ammonia is used as a coolant in commercial and industrial 
refrigerators like Freon is used in homes. The chemical is also a key 
ingredient in making methamphetamine and the only ingredient that can't be 
bought in stores.

Anhydrous ammonia is stored under pressure as a liquid. When released, it 
is a toxic gas that can cause burns, respiratory problems or explosions.

Clay Gutierrez, vice president of Biloxi-based Global Seafood Technologies 
Inc., said he spent almost $3,000 to repair damage caused to his business 
because of repeated attempts to steal ammonia.

"Every other weekend, people were cutting holes in the building with tools 
and saws," Gutierrez said. "Those people are crazy. I'm surprised we never 
came in to work one day and found someone lying dead from inhaling ammonia 
vapor."

Anhydrous ammonia and other hazardous chemicals aren't hard to find on the 
Coast, where companies such as DuPont DeLisle, First Chemical and Wellman 
Inc., dot the landscape. According to documents filed annually with county 
civil defense offices and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, 
several companies have millions of tons of hazardous chemicals on site 
every day.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom