Ports will split $168 million in security grants

Ports will split $168 million in security grants    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced $168 million in grants to be distributed to ports to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other emergencies.
   The grants are part of $399 million in grants for infrastructure protection awarded by the DHS in fiscal year 2006 that include funds set aside for protecting chemical facilities, mass transit systems and other critical infrastructure.
   Under the Port Security Grant Program, $168 million will be provided to about half of the 101 ports that were eligible to apply. Since 2002, the department has provided more than $876 million to enhance security at maritime facilities.
   Port areas getting more than $10 million are:
   * New York-New Jersey, $25.7 million.
   * Los Angeles-Long Beach, $12 million.
   * Houston, $11.6 million.
   * Baton Rouge, $11.6 million.
   * Chicago, $11.5 million.
   * Southern Louisiana, $11.4 million.
   Selection of recipients and the amounts awarded were based on each port’s relative risk of a terrorist attack and the degree to which proposed projects helped protect critical assets. The lion’s share of money went to large ports that handle the majority of international trade.
   “We applaud today’s decision by the federal government to provide more than $25 million to the Port of New York and New Jersey to enhance the security of the East Coast’s busiest seaport,” said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in a written statement. The authority will receive $11.6 million of the total. It said that money will be used to improve security monitoring and access systems.
   Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., today welcomed the announcement that $14.5 million in federal homeland security funding will be directed to Washington State, including $9.9 million for port security.
   Murray said the funds were a “good first step,” but said “it falls short of what’s needed.”
   “The latest intelligence report says terrorism is getting worse, but the Bush administration is still refusing to invest what it takes to protect our ports. They’re only funding one-third of the security needs at our ports,” she added.
   Details on the funding amounts for each program can be found at: https://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/FY2006IPPPressKit092506Final.pdf.