TSA 12-03
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003
TSA Contact: (202) 385-1800
Transportation
Security Administration Joins U.S. Customs, Coast Guard, Maritime Administration
and State, Local Officials in Securing Ports, Cargo
Nearly $8.5 million in Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) grants to Texas ports includes money for risk assessments,
command facilities and other projects that will help local officials foil
terrorism, TSA said today at a news conference at the Port of Houston.
George Rodriguez, Director of Cargo Security, said those
grants also contribute to laying the foundation for ports to continually make
improvements and to employ new security technologies.
Rodriguez noted that several agencies, including the U.S.
Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Maritime Administration (MARAD), have long worked
to make ports and cargo secure. “TSA is honored to be part of this important
and professional team,” he said.
“It is imperative that we use everything at our disposal
to protect cargo and passengers from terrorists and to keep suspicious cargo
from entering our country,” Rodriguez said. “Accomplishing that will save
American lives and contribute to a healthy economy.”
The Port of Houston – the nation’s largest in terms of
foreign trade and second largest in tonnage – received a $1.5 million grant
for a new command and control center that local, state and federal agencies can
also use to monitor and control emergencies ranging from hurricanes to terrorist
attacks. The center is being modeled after facilities at Johnson Space Center,
and the port and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are exploring
how to provide backup to each other should one of them be disabled. The port
also received a $300,000 grant for a risk assessment.
Eight other ports or companies in Texas have received TSA
grants for risk assessments and for projects that include new surveillance
systems, lighting, command facilities, cameras, fencing, electronic detection
equipment and access control. Those receiving grants:
Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, $560,000.
Port of Corpus Christi, $2,273,277.
Brazos River Harbor Navigation District, Freeport, $85,000.
Port of Galveston, $1,611,206.
Dynegy Midstream Services, Inc., Houston, $60,000.
LBC Houston LP, Houston, $142,000.
BASF Corporation New Orleans, Freeport, $220,000.
Port
of Texas City, $1,735,883.
Those grants were among 79 totaling $92.3 million awarded
in June for port security. TSA is taking applications for new security grants
totaling $105 million for port protection.
Applications are due Feb. 27. TSA will assess applications in conjunction
with the Coast Guard and MARAD.
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