Rink on Brink of Closure Inks Deal

Berkeley city officials worked out an agreement Monday with indoor ice-skating facility Berkeley Iceland that orders the removal of toxic gas from its cooling system and the installation of a temporary, safer unit by Sept. 23, pushing back the initial deadline by a month.

The South Berkeley rink, a popular student destination located on Milvia Street, uses anhydrous ammonia, a toxic gas that is reported to cause respiratory problems, to keep its skating rink cold.

In May, the rink notified the city that the amount of ammonia it used was not 750 pounds, as previously estimated, but about 4,200 pounds, an amount Berkeley Fire Marshal Gil Dong said emergency responders would not be able to control in the event of a catastrophic release.

However, minor ammonia releases in 1998 and 2003 did not result in any injuries, and Iceland Administrative Manager Monte Tiedemann attributed the leaks to operator error.

The revelation of the rink's excess chemicals came in the midst of what Dong called a "continual dialogue" since 2003 between the rink and the city, regarding not only upgrading the cooling system, but building and fire safety code violations, culminating last month in a threat to shut down the rink.

During an Aug. 19 meeting with city officials, Iceland provided information showing "movement to correct and bring in a temporary system that will be much safer than the existing system," Dong said.

As a result, the city has granted the Iceland a one-month time extension to obtain the necessary permits needed to install a safer, temporary cooling system.

"There's movement and cooperation by Iceland to make the facility a safer place ... we're working in that spirit of cooperation," Dong said.

The rink will bring in a $100,000 cooling system, which it can operate until April 15 of next year, from Bietak, Inc., which provided refrigeration units for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The system, which will be funded by the rink's ownership, will only use 800 pounds of ammonia and will have updated safety features. The rink will also implement required fire protection measures.

The 65-year-old rink is expected to remain in operation during the process.

Tiedemann expressed regret that the owners are going to spend money on the temporary system rather than more permanent improvements, but said that the changes being made will serve the community. He listed various programs the rink runs and hosts, including school fund-raisers, skating clubs, and social events for local campus organizations.

"The only reason that we're following through is for the youth of Berkeley and the surrounding area," he said. "It's a great recreational facility, and the ownership is committed to keeping it open for the value that it gives to the surrounding community."

Tiedemann declined to give details on what kind of permanent solutions the rink might pursue, saying rink management would have a better idea of what would replace the temporary system after that system was installed.

UC Berkeley junior Katherine Cellers, a visitor to the Iceland rink, said she is not overly concerned about the ammonia issue.

"I think it's fine that they're keeping it open, although I guess it is somewhat dangerous," Cellers said. "But I do think it's good that they're going to change the system."

Tags: