Long-range effects may hit energy industry

Heightened security for systems would involve increased costs

By H. Josef Hebert ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 19, 2001

WASHINGTON -- Increased security at nuclear power plants, refineries and along thousands of miles of pipelines is likely to have a long-range effect on the nation's energy systems, industry officials say.

The cost of the additional security measures -- from hiring more guards at power plants to more intense monitoring of nearly 400,000 miles of pipeline -- remains unclear.

But federal regulators have advised they're ready to approve requests for electricity rate increases if energy producers request them.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration expressed its hope Monday that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries would take steps to avert supply shortages and keep prices stable. The OPEC ministers are scheduled to meet Sept. 26 in Vienna, Austria, to decide on production levels.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, while in Vienna on Sunday, met with OPEC Secretary-General Ali Rodriguez to relay President Bush's concerns about price stability and adequate supplies should the United States retaliate for last week's terrorist attacks.

Rodriguez told Abraham that OPEC remained committed to market stability, although he couldn't predict what would be decided at the upcoming meeting of oil ministers. Some OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, have vowed to do all they can to avoid a disruption in oil supplies, energy experts said.

World oil prices spiked to more than $31 a barrel after the terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but have since receded. Futures contracts in New York for light sweet crude closed Monday at $29.17 a barrel for November delivery, about what prices were before the attacks.

While there have been no specific terrorist threats against U.S. energy facilities, the attacks prompted energy companies across the country to scramble to increase protection.

The heightened security will probably remain awhile and could, industry officials said, have permanent effects.

Already, some energy companies are urging Congress to limit the amount of information provided to the public on flow rates and locations of major oil or natural gas pipelines. Additional federal security requirements for nuclear power plants also may be debated in coming weeks.

About 200,000 miles of pipelines carry oil and petroleum products across the country. An additional 180,000 miles of pipelines carry natural gas. Though most of these lines are buried, pumping stations, terminals and other facilities could be vulnerable.

Pipeline companies are putting people into previously unmanned facilities, increasing security at terminals and key pumping stations, and adding to patrols along the thousands of miles of pipes, industry officials said.

"We've been at heightened security since the attacks," Jerry Halvorsen, president of the Interstate Natural Gas Association, said Monday.

Security for the nation's electricity grid poses similar challenges, as thousands of miles of high-voltage lines crisscross America. Attacks on key lines could trigger vast power outages because grids are widely interconnected.

Within hours of last week's terrorist attacks, the FBI issued an alert to utilities to increase security and report suspicious activities. The alert remains in effect, although few details have been provided.

Nuclear power plants have been on the highest state of alert since the terrorist attacks.

http://www.uniontrib.com/news/uniontrib/wed/news/news_1n19nuke.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 19, 2001

Answers

Water agencies step up patrols More guards, air surveillance among moves to protect the system

By Steve La Rue STAFF WRITER

September 19, 2001

Water agencies have hired more security guards, increased aerial surveillance and canceled public tours to protect the state water system that San Diego County depends on for at least 75 percent of its supply.

"We are doing threat assessments and we are aware of the potential for terrorism," Sonny Fong, security chief for the state Department of Water Resources, said yesterday.

Water officials said the state system has been made much more secure since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Security has been beefed up along the state's 700 miles of aqueducts, as well as at pumps, reservoirs and water treatment plants.

"We have increased patrols at all of our facilities and closed and locked gates at our five water filtration plants," said Rob Hallwachs, spokesman for the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District, which imports most of San Diego County's supply from Northern California and the Colorado River.

Aerial and foot patrols have increased along the Metropolitan Water District's 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct, which brings river water into Southern California. It is San Diego County's primary water source.

Also, the state has increased patrols and aerial surveillance along the 444-mile California Aqueduct that transports water from Northern to Southern California.

San Diego's municipal reservoirs remain open for recreation, but visitors are likely to see more security personnel than usual, some in plain clothes, said city spokesman Kurt Kidman.

"Immediately after the attack, we stepped up security, especially at our three water treatment plants," he said. "We are making sure that anybody on site, especially at water treatment plants, is supposed to be there and has the proper ID.

"New armed guards also are on duty at the city's treatment plants."

The San Diego County Water Authority also has stepped up patrols of its 270 miles of rights of way, where underground pipes convey water into the county.

Before the precautions, California's water delivery system was particularly vulnerable to terrorist attack, experts say.

"The aqueducts are not really the main vulnerability, it is mainly the water treatment plants and the pumping stations," said Elizabeth Chalecki, research associate for the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security.

Pump stations and water treatment plants, she said, are key installations that process water from different aqueducts and deliver it to users.

It is unlikely, she said, that the water supply would be poisoned.

"If you wanted to put agents into the water supply, you have the problem of dilution to deal with," she said. "A chemical put into the water is going to be diluted as it goes through the system."

She said disease-causing bacteria and viruses that could be put into drinking water are living organisms that almost certainly would be killed by the same process that water systems use to kill other harmful bacteria -- chlorination.

http://www.uniontrib.com/news/uniontrib/wed/news/news_1n19water.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 19, 2001.

Going after energy facilities, especially pipelines, is a standard terrorist tactic is some countries. Look what they have done to Bolivia's oil pipelines. Ditto Nigeria. If it started happening here, we would be in even deeper trouble than from the Twin Tower destruction.

-- Wayward (wayward@webtv.net), September 19, 2001.