Ensign bill would aid McCarran security woes

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, July 17, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., introduced a bill Tuesday that would aid McCarran International Airport, which could swamp passengers with lengthy delays if forced to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for implementing new federal security measures, he said.

Two months after Sept. 11 Congress set the deadline for the nation's 429 passenger airports to implement new screening procedures and install expensive equipment designed to examine every piece of luggage by the end of this year. But as many as 25 percent of airports, including McCarran, are not likely to meet the year-end goal, officials say.

That means passengers in December could face hassles, as airport security officials struggle to probe each bag without high-tech new machines.

Sensitive to McCarran's key role in moving tourists in and out of Las Vegas, Ensign introduced a bill Tuesday that would allow airports to work out more reasonable deadlines with the Transportation Security Administration, the new agency that oversees airport security.

The bill requires the agency to notify each airport by Oct. 1 of exactly what kinds of screening systems are required. Airports then have one month to inform the TSA about whether they can meet a Dec. 31 deadline. The airports and the agency will then negotiate a reasonable new deadline, if needed.

The bill is similar to legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas.

"We knew we couldn't meet the deadline," Ensign said. "At certain airports this can't be done without putting passengers at greater risk. Not only would there not be greater security, but passengers clogged at ticket counters could be a target for terrorists."

Ensign aides said McCarran needs at least three more months beyond the December deadline to meet federal rules. Construction of a proposed new baggage processing facility, which could cost as much as $200 million, could take longer.

It's not clear whether the Senate will embrace Ensign's bill. It does not yet have White House support, Ensign aides said.