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I have kind of followed this story.

Based on what I’ve seen, the judgment as to whether this is an urban legend or not, would merely be a choice on which story or stories that you choose to believe.

If you believe the stories about the 6 guys and the passports, you will come to the conclusion that this is not an urban legend.

If you believe the single story refuting the stories about the 6 guys and the passports, you will come to the conclusion that this is an urban legend.

The decision can’t be made based on the sources for the stories, because the quality of the sources for all stories is the same – very poor. None of the stories name sources,

Here’s an outline of what I’ve found.

Story 1:

FBI looking to question 6 men
Date: Oct. 31, 2001
Synopsis:
6 middle eastern looking men were found traveling in 2 vans with photographs of a nuclear plant in Florida, photos of the trans-Alaska pipeline, boxcutters and other apparently incriminating material.
The cops that made the stop released the 6 guys after calling INS and learning the passports were valid. INS called the report unfounded.
The FBI is now looking for them.

Sources: “a senior law enforcement official,” INS
Original Story: http://www.l-e-o.com/content/columbus/2001/10/31/news/1031ALERT.htm

Story 2:

FBI furious over release of 6 found with map of Florida nuclear plant
Date: Oct. 31, 2001
Synopsis:

“FBI director Robert Mueller was said to be ``furious'' at the release, the Miami Herald reported, citing an unidentified senior law enforcement official.” Sources: Miami Herald, “a senior law enforcement official,” INS

Original Story:

This story was published by the South Florida Sun Sentinal at this URL: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1031detainees.story?coll=sfla%2Dhome%2Dheadlines.
However, the above story no longer exists at that URL, because it was quickly replaced with Story 3, below.
See this post for details on the revision of the above story: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/560594/posts?page=68#68
Thread here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/560594/posts?
Sources: Miami Herald, "unidentified senior law enforcement official."

Story 3:

U.S. officials deny newspaper report that 6 found with map of Florida nuclear plant
Date: Oct. 31, 2001
Synopsis:
“U.S. officials Wednesday said they had nothing to corroborate a newspaper report that federal agents were searching for six men who had been carrying material about a nuclear power plant in Florida and an Alaskan pipeline.”
Sources: Miami Herald, “U.S officials”

Original Story:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1031detainees.story?coll=sfla%2Dhome%2Dheadlines
This is the story that replaced the story claiming the FBI was furious over the release of the 6 guys.
This is the piece that you can cite if you choose to believe that the story of the 6 middle eastern looking guys with material about a nuke plant in Florida and the Trans-Alaska pipeline is an urban legend.

Sources: Miami Herald, “U.S officials”

Story 4:

Six Islamic terrorists are in U.S. carrying Israeli passports
Date: Nov. 1, 2001
Synopsis:
Islamic insurgents operating in the United States have entered the country with forged or stolen Israeli passports. The FBI believes that six Arabs from the Middle East are now holding Israeli passports.
U.S. security officials said the Israeli passports were discovered in the investigation that immediately followed the Sept. 11 suicide attacks

Original Story:
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_4.html.

Sources: Miami Herald, “U.S security officials”