Crews respond to Tampa Bay oil spill

Crews respond to Tampa Bay oil spill Cleanup crews were responding to a 400-gallon fuel oil spill into Tampa Bay off Port Manatee Monday and Tuesday, working to prevent serious damage by containing the oil before it could spread.
   The U.S. Coast Guard said spill occurred early Monday morning at the Florida Power & Light berth at Port Manatee. FPL and Port Manatee officials immediately reported the spill and initiated containment plans previously in place for such an event.
   The source of the oil was believed to be a pipeline running between an oil barge and tanks at the FPL terminal. There were an estimated 900 gallons spilled, with 500 gallons contained by a ditch built around the storage tanks. But the remaining oil ran into the bay, according to a report in the Tampa Tribune.
   Specially equipped boats used for pollution control were in the bay working to contain and remove the fuel oil. Officials said it appeared the spill could be successfully contained before serious environmental damage occurred. Vacuum trucks had removed most of the oil from the ditch Monday, the report said.