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Savannah Morning News

 

'This port is still at risk,' senator says

 

1A | Business | Intown | Local News | West Chatham

Mary Carr Mayle | Sunday, October 15, 2006 at 12:30 am |

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers use the VACIS, Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System, to screen containers Friday at the Georgia Ports Authority. GPA, the fastest-growing port in the country, has moved more than 3.8 million containers in the last two years. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who visited the port Friday expressed his frustration with a Homeland Security grant program that has left Savannah's port empty-handed for the second year in a row. (Photo: Stephen Berend)

 

During a visit Friday to the Georgia Ports Authority in Savannah, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss listens as U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer James Vincent discusses the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System, used to screen containers at the port. (Photo: Stephen Berend)

 

 As President Bush signed a massive port security bill Friday morning, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss stood at the country's fifth-largest container port and expressed his frustration with a Homeland Security grant program that has left Savannah's port empty-handed for the second year in a row.

 

Georgia Ports Authority, the fastest-growing port in the country, has moved more than 3.8 million containers in the last two years, yet requests for more than $3 million in security funding in 2005 and some $4 million in 2006 were summarily denied, Chambliss said.

 

As Bush thanked Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for his service and declared the protection of the American people "the most solemn responsibility of the federal government," Chambliss charged that Homeland Security "failed in its responsibility to address security issues" at Savannah's docks.

 

"And if they have failed here, they have failed in other places as well," he said.

 

Two weeks ago, Chambliss and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, both Georgia Republicans, sent a letter to Chertoff, asking for a review of GPA's requests for funding and an explanation of why it has been denied a piece of the security grant pie.

 

On Wednesday, Chambliss received a three-page letter from Donald H. Kent, deputy assistant secretary for legislative and governmental affairs for Homeland Security.

 

The letter reiterated the criteria and procedures for security grant funding, noting that all requests could not be met. There were only a few specific references to Georgia Ports Authority, and those provided more questions than answers.

 

Disappointed, Chambliss scheduled a visit to the port and requested a meeting with GPA, U.S. Coast Guard and Customs officials.

 

During the security briefing, which was not open to the media, the group spoke via conference call with representatives of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C.

 

"Frankly, their response today was as weak as the response in their letter as far as helping us understand why this port was left out," Chambliss told reporters after the briefing.

 

"Fortunately, we have an advantage in that we have good people - the Coast Guard, Customs and GPA's own security force - working to keep this port safe," he said, after participating in a demonstration of Customs and Border Protection's Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System, used to screen containers.

 

"But the terrorists know our equipment," Chambliss said. "They know our capabilities. We have to continuously upgrade our technology to stay ahead of the curve on this.

 

"That's tough to do with no funding."

 

 

Better communication

 

 

Former U.S. Sen. Mack Mattingly, R-Ga., now in his second term as president of the Port Authority board, said Homeland Security has to step up to the plate when it comes to keeping Georgia's deepwater ports secure.

 

"I can't overemphasize that it's their responsibility to ensure this port is safe," he said.

 

"Hopefully, we'll see them follow up with a more critical assessment of the needs here."

 

While he doesn't expect to see any funds forthcoming for this year, Chambliss said he has been assured communications between Homeland Security and GPA will improve.

 

"One thing that came out of today's conference call was that Homeland Security didn't think there was enough dialogue between their office and individual ports," he said.

 

Chambliss has asked Homeland Security for a letter outlining the substance of Friday's conversation and a time line describing what the port needs to do to be successful in its bid for funding next year.

 

"They agree with me that this port is still at risk," he said.

 

David Schaller, the GPA chief administrative officer responsible for security issues,said he was encouraged by Friday's briefing.

 

"It was a good meeting," he said. "We're looking for positive results from this."

 

Mattingly agreed.

 

"Hopefully, this time next year we'll be talking about the improvements we're going to make with our grant funding, rather than standing here asking why."