www.esryle.comLOCAL NEWS ACROSS THE NATION
Posted on 07/02/2004 1:48:37 PM PDT by esryle
TACOMA -- The Homeland Security Department says a Washington refinery may have come under surveillance by terrorists.
The department sent a bulletin to law enforcement and oil company officials saying a person in a kayak videotaped the refinery and that security personnel there had a suspicious encounter last year with a diver.
The department said Al-Qaida views oil and gas businesses as targets because of potentially significant economic, helth, safety and psychological impacts.
Washington state officials say they have no information about surveillance at refineries and that such bulletins from the Department of Homeland Security are routine.
ping to fellow washoes
I just hope they haven't been letting people take the "Reactor" tour in town here...We have a small NR up on campus...
We have two refineries here in Anacortes - could have been one of those. I have noticed there are small boats (30-40 ft.) with a LOT of antennas that prowl around the bay whenever there are tankers anchored up out here. Somebody is on watch but I don't know who.
A General Atomics TRIGA reactor, by any chance? I'm guessing these are fairly safe as far as terrorism goes. I went to a college that has one. I started but did not finish the non-credit course to qualify as an operator. The reactor uses 20% enriched uranium. It sits at the bottom of a 26 ft deep pool of water. It is of a design that is inherently safe from melting down: if it gets too hot, it expands, which lowers the density of the core, which limits the chain reaction. All of the cooling water and all the control rods could have been removed and it wouldn't have melted. (It would be very radioactive in the reactor room, however!)
The worst case scenario would be for terrorists to try to steal the fuel to use in radiological devices.
Would that be from the treehugger whackos or from Moslem whackos?
Sometimes it's hard to keep em straight.
Programs, programs, can't tell the players without a program. LOL
I just wonder - do atomic power plants have anti-aircraft batteries ?
Or is it more like Homer Simpson scenario....
DUH !
NR ? You mean a small NRA up on campus... :o)
I heard the same warning that wasn't a warning today about the chemical plants on the Houston Ship Channel. Routine routine, just chatter, we hear it all the time.
yep...thats it...
http://www.wsu.edu/~nrc/
This particular refinery has unbelievably lax security. Anyone can get onto the refinery property property and drive around. They have one guard who sits in the guard shack all day and reads the newspaper because he is too old to walk around. There have been numerous complaints about the security in the past but little improvement.
George Bush and his administraiton has done a gret job of keeing the battle off home territory - but we need to be watchful of the many loopholes and open doors. Stay safe this holiday!
"If I recall, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is doing some fill in patrols."
IF you'd like to join the Anacortes CG Auxiliary FReepmail me and we'll get together.
We've sailed past the Anacortes off-loading site numerous times, we could get really close (from '82-'86)...I'm sure things have tightened up since then.
Sounds like salmon long-liners (trollers). I used to think those were antennas too, but they are probably outriggers.
Yes, while no secret, that is not especially well known among liberal Seattle (can you imagine the uproar – even pre 9/11)? But I hope they have more than campus security responsible for it; although I doubt it is a serious threat overall. It could score psychological points however.
Stay safe.
WHAT particular refinery? I didn't see a name/location cited.
Very poor reporting. Were the kayaker and diver ragheads?
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