Monday, December 17, 2007

Residents, Civic Leaders Fighting Fuel Pipeline Plan

TAMPA - More than 100 people have signed petitions opposing construction of an underground jet fuel pipeline through central city neighborhoods to Tampa International Airport.

Dozens of other residents have called the city to voice opposition to the 9-mile pipeline, which would originate at the Port of Tampa, southeast of downtown.

Nine pages of petition signatures were received Nov. 26 at Mayor Pam Iorio's office. Many petitioners listed West Tampa addresses north and south of the proposed pipeline route.

Tampa Homeowners, an Association of Neighborhoods, an umbrella organization of civic groups known as THAN, also sent a letter to Iorio in late November expressing "deep concern" about the proposed pipeline.

A consortium of airlines at TIA hired Houston-based Kinder Morgan to build the underground pipeline. In October, Kinder Morgan unveiled a proposed route that cuts through portions of Ybor City and West Tampa historical districts, as well as parts of Tampa Heights and Macfarlane Park.

A Kinder Morgan spokeswoman said the company will submit a new route proposal to the city early next year.

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