Mid-Columbia steps up security

This story was published Wed, Sep 11, 2002

By Karen Zacharias, Chris Mulick and Annette Cary
Herald staff writers

President Bush's warning Tuesday of potential terrorist activity will bring some extra precautions at key Mid-Columbia sites already operating under increased security.

There have been no specific threats to the Hanford site, but this week more vehicles are being searched and all badges are being checked at the site barricades, said Andrea Powell, spokeswoman for the Department of Energy.

Employees are being asked to look closely at the security badges of strangers and not to permit anyone to "piggyback" through a facility's security checks unless the employee verifies that person also has the proper badge.

And in response to the first-ever orange alert the operator of the nuclear plant north of Richland began a series of pre-planned safety actions.

Without being specific, those actions may include increasing armed security guards, increasing coordination with law enforcement agencies, restricting plant access and reviewing emergency response procedures, said Energy Northwest spokesman Don McManman.

The public power consortium recently completed a series of security changes required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Most notably, they include the construction of a concrete barrier to surround the 1,150-megawatt reactor and support facilities while requiring inspections of all visitor vehicles.

In Umatilla, chemical depot personnel already are doing everything they can to protect the stockpile and the surrounding communities, said Army spokeswoman Mary Binder.

"We have been on a heightened security alert since 9/11, and we continue to be," she said.

Binder said she was unaware of any threats -- specific or generic -- that involve the chemical agents. There are 3,717 tons of deadly VX, GB and mustard gas stored at the site.

"We have received no information of any targets in Oregon, or (the Pacific Northwest) Region 10. Nothing that would cause us to enhance what we are already doing," said Beverlee Venell, director of Oregon Emergency Management.

However, Venell said with the help of the National Guard, the state's emergency operations center would be manned 24/7 for the rest of the week.

"They've been geared up, helping out with the fires we've had. But we'll keep them on," Venell said.

In Pendleton, Tom Groat, the emergency operations manager for Umatilla County, said some measures have been taken to beef up security at the Pendleton Round-Up grounds, where an estimated 50,000 people are attending various attractions, including an afternoon rodeo and the Happy Canyon Night Show.

"We're not doing anything additional because of the hazard level, but we are on the lookout because of the number of tourists we have in town," Groat said.

Specifically, he said bags that previously were searched for liquor-control at the public events now are searched for security reasons.

"We're checking the bags like they do in any large event venue nowadays," he said.

Groat said emergency crews and law enforcement officials are "cautiously optimistic" that the week will go off without a hitch.

"We just keep doing what we're doing," Groat said.

 

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