|
Pilot Port: Tampa Bay, FL
 |
|
Tampa Skyline
|
Port of Tampa Bay Description
The Port of Tampa is Florida’s largest tonnage port, handling nearly half of all seaborne commerce that passes through the state. As one of the largest tonnage ports in the nation, the port handles 3,700 vessels and up to 50 million tons of cargo with an estimated value of $13 billion annually. It is also a major cruise port. Currently, more than 20,000 people work directly in four main port industries – cruise, shipping, transportation, and phosphate and chemical industries. The Tampa Port Authority supports the employment of 108,000 people. Port land uses include bulk and general cargo, ship repair facilities, cruise ship terminals, fisheries and non-traditional retail and entertainment uses.
The Port of Tampa has proposed a comprehensive strategy for brownfields redevelopment that includes economic, environmental and social goals. The port also plays an integral role in the protection and restoration of the environmental health of Tampa Bay. Through the Portfields designation, the Port of Tampa seeks the opportunity to work with federal agencies to enhance redevelopment and to improve the economic and social conditions in and around the port.
Brownfields redevelopment is identified as a goal within the Tampa Port Authority Master Plan. The port’s brownfields redevelopment program began with the designation of its property as a State Brownfields Area in 2001. Additionally, the City of Tampa’s Brownfield Target Area was expanded in 2002 in order to include all of the port’s properties. The port is also located within the City of Tampa Enterprise Community and Federal Enterprise Community, as well as along a designated Federally Significant Estuary within a Florida Outstanding Waterway. Clearly, brownfields redevelopment has a critical role in the economic and environmental health of the immediate Tampa Bay community.
The Port of Tampa’s main goal is to expand port commerce while minimizing environmental impact. Preliminary environmental assessments have been conducted on several project sites in order to prioritize them for cleanup and redevelopment. Sites that have redevelopment potential or possible end users have received top priority. Brownfields redevelopment will support waterborne commerce at the Port of Tampa by increasing capacity and expanding existing and new port businesses. Import and export businesses are at the forefront of the expansion plans, which will increase overall tonnage and cargo value realized by the port.
The Port of Tampa was chosen as a Portfields Pilot for its commitment to port redevelopment, its innovative approach to waterfront planning and revitalization, its unique set of needs, its willingness to participate, and the overall value federal assistance can add to the redevelopment effort.
 |
|
Tampa Gulf Repair
|
Port Statistics
• Area: 2,500 acres, plus a 200-acre mitigation site. Less than 400 acres are available for development
• Principal Activities: bulk and general cargo, transportation, cruise ships, marine industries, fisheries, retail and entertainment uses, petroleum, coal, aggregates, phosphate and chemical industries.
• Cargo Activity: 49.7 million tons annually
• Maritime Infrastructure: Principal channels currently have depths of 43 feet MLW; others are 34 feet MLW with 34 plus feet at quays. The port has three cruise terminals (plus one under construction), 26 liquid bulk terminals, seven phosphate terminals, 14 other dry bulk terminals and 11 general cargo facilities. Vessel repair is available at Gulf Marine Repair Corporation, the Hendry Corporation, Tampa Bay Shipbuilding and Repair, Misener Marine, DMT and International Ship Repair, Incorporated. The Port of Tampa is served by CSX Transportation with connections to all railways in the United States.
 |
|
Tampa Flow Model
|
Portfield Projects and Status
• Portfields Partners Meeting, May 2005: There was an interagency meeting of the Tampa Portfields partners on May 17-18, 2005, at the Tampa Port Authority. This meeting reconvened approximately twenty partner agencies who attended the Portfields kickoff meeting in April, 2004, as well as new partners who have gotten involved over the last year. The goal of this meeting was to provide updates on progress about specific projects and discuss new issues and opportunities for partners to get involved. Contact Kenneth Walker for additional information.
• Stormwater Management Project: Tampa is serving as a national model for innovative stormwater management by designing and building a network of drainage ditches, retention ponds, and filtration wetlands that will improve water quality and enhance habitat within Tampa Bay. NOAA provided $45,000 to the Tampa Port Authority (TPA) for planning and design of stormwater improvements on TPA property. This project has involved the development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to collect and convert property boundary and topography data layers to determine where stormwater runoff travels from each individual parcel. This GIS work will help the Port identify properties best suited for installation of best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management improvements. The GIS component will be followed by site specific engineering designs for BMPs. A variety of partners are involved with this project, including the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP), and Photo Science Geospatial Solutions. This partnership is already providing opportunities to leverage funds for on the ground BMP installation.
• Gulf Marine Site clean up moves forward: In early 2005, the Tampa Port Authority (TPA) was awarded a Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Gulf Marine Repair site, a priority site identified under the Portfields Initiative. Gulf Marine Repair is a five acre site within the Port Ybor Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement (BSRA) with FDEP. A full assessment under the Florida Brownfields clean up criteria rule is required for the facility, and potential soil and groundwater remediation are anticipated. This funding will allow TPA to move forward with a Phase II assessment on the property. In addition, FDEP grant funding for source removal may also be available for the Gulf Marine Repair site.
• Priority Brownfields Redevelopment - The Port of Tampa’s goals for priority Brownfields redevelopment are: (1) to facilitate environmentally responsible redevelopment and revitalization of the port’s three State of Florida-designated Brownfields sites -- Port Ybor, Tampa Scrap Processors, and Tampa Bay Shipbuilding and Repair, and (2) to assess, remediate, and redevelop the Gulf Marine Repair site (within the Port Ybor redevelopment area).
• Habitat Protection and Enhancement - The Port of Tampa seeks to implement habitat protection and enhancement projects on several dredge spoil islands adjacent to the main channel, including shoreline stabilization, shorebird habitat protection, and fish and shellfish habitat creation.
• Bulkhead and Wharf Improvement - The Port of Tampa’s goals for bulkhead and wharf improvement are: (1) to create jobs by dewatering a 68-acre infill site at the south end of Hooker’s Point so that it can accommodate expanded container trade, (2) to repair and improve Berth 230 to support existing petroleum transfer operations and expand the port’s petroleum business, (3) to improve and expand container facilities, and (4) to clean up a vacant, privately owned power plant, facilitating access to a key deepwater berth.
• Innovative Storm Water Treatment- The Port of Tampa seeks to be a national showcase for innovative storm water management. The port would like to design and build a network of drainage ditches, retention ponds, and polishing wetlands that greatly improve storm water management at the port.
• Aquatic Nuisance Species in Ballast Water - The Port of Tampa seeks to improve understanding of the ecological and economic risks associated with aquatic nuisance species transported in ballast water into Tampa Bay.
• Community Development - The Port of Tampa hopes to work with local community colleges and maritime industries to develop a technical training program to prepare workers for positions in traditional industries, such as ship repair, environmentally sound land maintenance and seaport construction. The port would also like to relocate the Tampa Marine Institute, which offers rehabilitation for at-risk youth.
 |
|
Tampa Buildings
|
For More Information
NOAA Contact:
Kenneth Walker
NOAA/National Ocean Service
phone: (301)713-3155 x 157
e-mail: Kenneth.Walker@noaa.gov
Port Contact:
Robert Musser
phone: (813)905-5032
e-mail: RMusser@tampaport.com
|
