DOT SENIOR OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE NEW AIR CARGO SECURITY POSITIONS

DOT SENIOR OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE NEW AIR CARGO SECURITY POSITIONS    Senior Transportation Department officials said they hope to install officials to oversee all aspects of cargo and passenger security at the largest U.S. airports by February.
   The new position, “Federal Security Director,” would replace Federal Security Managers at the nation's largest airports for cargo and passengers, officials said at a background briefing for the newly formed Transportation Security Administration.
   The new position would centralize the responsibility of all facets of cargo and passenger security at each airport — including the oversight of federal baggage screeners. This measure would assure accountability, a DOT official said.
   “These people are absolutely indispensable to our success,” the official said, adding that the FSDs would have to coordinate with local and national law enforcement agencies at each airport, weaving between different jurisdictions, while addressing the needs of the public.
   “This is a diplomat’s job,” the DOT official said, stressing that new public awareness of air cargo and passenger security since Sept. 11. “This is a line responsibility job in the new world.'
   Another official added that the DOT was still going to push for 100-percent screening of all cargo that enters passenger plane bellies, in addition to all-cargo planes. “It does not have a date assigned to it yet — we are talking as soon as practicable,” he added.
   Another official at the hearing said the measure calling for FSDs, along with other security enforcements, such as amendments made to the “known shipper” ruling after the September attacks, is one of many that has tightened air cargo security. He said he anticipated industry and the DOT coordinating effectively to meet all security deadlines. “I think we’re going to join hands and do this together,” the official said.