TSA Begins the Federalization Process at 21 Additional Airports

TSA 68-02
Monday July 29 2002
Contact: Sebastian Warren or Chris Rhatigan
Phone: 202-385-1255 or 202-385-1090

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will send site assessment teams to 21 airports during the week of July 29 to conduct initial studies to federalize passenger security and baggage screening checkpoints. This will bring to 306 the number of airports that the TSA will have federalized.

Airport federalization is a three-step process that involves:

1. A site survey to determine the best design of the checkpoint and baggage screening areas;
2. Checkpoint and baggage screening reconfiguration to best facilitate security and safety; and
3. Deployment of a general screening workforce.

The recruitment assessment training and deployment of screeners at a given airport will take five weeks or longer. The time between arrival of the site assessment team and full deployment of a federal screening workforce depends on the size of the airport and other factors.

The TSA which has responsibility for civil aviation security will deploy federal passenger screeners to all commercial airports by Nov. 19 2002 and is responsible for having checked baggage-screening equipment in place by Dec. 31 2002.

Site assessments will be conducted at the following airports. A blank indicates airports receiving passenger security screening site assessment teams; * Indicates airports receiving explosive detection equipment site assessment teams; · Indicates airports receiving both passenger security screening and explosive detection equipment site assessment teams.

• Indian Wells Valley Airport District (IYK) Inyokern CA
• Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) Santa Barbara CA *
• Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) Hayden CO
• Alexandria International Airport (AEX) Alexandria LA
• Bishop International Airport (FNT) Flint MI *
• MBS International Airport (MBS) Freeland MI *
• Capital City Airport (LAN) Lansing MI *
• Manistee County Blacker Airport (MBL) Manistee MI *
• Muskegon County International Airport (MKG) Muskegon MI *
• Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) Traverse City MI *
• Duluth International Airport (DLH) Duluth MN *
• Rochester International Airport (RST) Rochester MN *
• Minot International Airport (MOT) Minot ND *
• Eugenio Maria De Hostos (MAZ) Mayaguez PR
• Charleston International Airport/AFB(CHS) Charleston SC
• Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) Greer SC
• McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE) McAllen TX
• Outagamie County Airport (ATW) Appleton WI *
• La Crosse Municipal Airport (LSE) La Crosse WI *
• Central Wisconsin Regional Airport (CWA) Mosinee WI *
• Wittman Field Airport (OSH) Oshkosh WI *