Tulsa, Oklahoma's Port of Catoosa Defends Security Measures

Bob Portiss has lost track of the number of times he's heard pork-barrel references in the media.

As director of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, he would normally be glad for national publicity. But after six months, he's long since grown tired of encountering news programs such as "60 Minutes," editorials in nationwide newspapers and Internet blogs offering variations on this:

"The federal government gave a $750,000 Homeland Security grant for port protection in a landlocked state? Does Oklahoma even have water? That's a great example of pork-barrel spending."

Portiss describes the label as unfair, saying the funds were necessary to keep a high-traffic and sensitive area secure from any kind of terrorist attack. Now, the port has wide-range cameras, card-controlled gates and security fencing.

In fact, beefing up security wasn't optional.

"We were required by the Department of Homeland Security, by law, to create a port security plan," Portiss said.

The facility was among about 40 ports identified by the department as "most critical" in 2003, Portiss said, though federal officials never clarified why the port was placed on the list.

Still, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa is no minor port. Richard Voth, deputy port director and operations manager, said the facility is the nation's 17th largest inland port in terms of volume handled, with 2.2 million tons passing through last year.

Homeland Security spokesman Mark Short said inland ports are more important than many people realize.

"Inland waterways are a very critical transportation structure," he said.

However, the Tulsa port did not make this year's list of 66 ports most critically in need of funding.

"Threat information changes," Short said. "Different ports may move on and off the list."

This year, ports were named to the list based on risk factors, vulnerability and terrorist intelligence.

Short said the Tulsa port does handle some hazardous cargo, and Homeland Security continues to monitor its status.

To comply with the 2003 classification, Voth said, the port had to protect itself from two types of danger.

The first is an attack on its infrastructure, which could bring much of the local and national economy to a standstill.

The second is the theft of sensitive cargo that comes through the port, such as petrochemicals or fertilizer that can be used as explosives.

When putting together the security plan, Voth focused on the terminal area, which handles all incoming and outgoing cargo.

The area now sports five security cameras mounted on 30- to 50-foot poles. The cameras can rotate 360 degrees, and they have remote control access and monitors at several locations within the port.

Inside the Port Authority Administration building, Voth maneuvered a joy stick that allowed the monitor image from a distant camera to zoom in on a tow boat, quickly allowing viewers to read its markings.

"We can zoom in on anything up to three-quarters of a mile away," Voth said.

Thanks to Homeland Security funding, the gates to the terminal area are controlled by ID cards. Though they're typically open during daytime hours, the gates can be shut instantly should the port go on alert.

Operators can also tell the card reader to promptly recognize new ID cards or deny cards that have been misplaced or stolen, Voth said.

(c) 2005 Tulsa World, Okla.