Volume CXXXIII, Number 5 October 12, 2001 f

Maine on high-alert
NICHOLAS J. LoVECCHIO
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Military, state, and federal agencies within Maine have remained on high alert this week, after U.S. air raids started overseas Sunday.

Portland Jetport
The Portland International Jetport reopened sections of its parking garage yesterday, one month after the FAA mandated that no cars could park within 300 feet of any U.S. airport terminal.

While the 300-feet rule is still in effect, the Portland Jetport received special permission from the FAA to use certain parts of the garage that are within 300 feet of the terminal.

According to Kevin Sullivan, marketing director for the jetport, "the concrete wall in the center of the garage in effect acts as what would be a blast shield, so to speak." For this reason, he said, the FAA granted a partial waiver for the garage.

The entire first floor of the garage is being used for rental cars, the back half of the second floor is being used for paid parking, and the entire top floor is being used for paid parking. For now, the garage will be used primarily for daily parking.

All cars entering the garage are being searched.

Weekly and overflow parking will continue in the satellite lot on Congress St., which is serviced by a free shuttle bus.

The construction of a new garage, which was underway prior to the events of September 11, has not been affected, as it is beyond 300 feet of the terminal.

Naval Air Station Brunswick
According to John W. James, director of public affairs for the Brunswick Naval Air Station, the base is operating in support of Operation Noble Eagle, the homeland defense operation for the U.S., said John W. James, director of public affairs for the station.

James was not able to comment on the Brunswick squadrons' activities in regard to Operation Enduring Freedom, which is the offensive anti-terrorist mission overseas.

A United States Navy Bell helicopter patrols the perimeter of Brunswick Naval Air Station as part of increased security following the attacks of September 11. (Henry Coppola, Bowdoin Orient)

Starting September 11, the station's security level was Threat Condition Delta, which is the highest level. Under orders from the Department of Defense, stations nationwide are now forbidden to release information about specific security levels or operations.

"Suffice it to say, it is a very heightened state of alert. We're extremely vigilant. We feel safe, and we think the community, including our neighbors at Bowdoin College, should feel safe," James said.

There are four active squadrons and two reserve squadrons stationed at the base. While neither of the two reserve squadrons has been mobilized yet, a reserve ground support unit of about 100 people was activated last week and is being mobilized somewhere to the European theater.

"We're waiting for other reserve units to be called up…but we don't know when it's going to happen," James said.

The Naval Air Station Brunswick is the last active-duty military airfield remaining in the northeast. While there are a number of reserve bases in the Northeast, the nearest active-duty base is the McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. NAS Brunswick is the U.S. military base closest to the European theater and NATO commands.

Approximately 20 percent of NAS Brunswick's activities are in direct support of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath, the Navy operation that oversees the building of the AEGIS destroyers at the Bath Iron Works.

The Supervisor of Shipbuilding operation has also increased its security measures, but a spokeswoman could not release any information. The Bath Iron Works has closed two of its four entry gates since September 11 and has increased its security posture as well.

Ports of Entry
All ports of entry in Maine are open, according to Paul Morris, deputy district director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Portland. This includes 32 land border ports of entry, the airports in Portland and Bangor, and the sea ports along the coast.

"We are at a heightened state of alert, and in some cases that may slow the crossing process somewhat. In all cases, we are doing what we can to both enforce the laws and facilitate entry."

Bowdoin students who headed to Canada over Fall Break last weekend had different experiences at the border. Some said they had to deal with car searches and waited over an hour to pass through; others said they passed through in minutes.

While none of the ports have been closed permanently, the land border port of entry at Highgate, Vermont, which is governed by the Portland district of the INS, was shut down for almost seven hours Wednesday after a bomb threat was called in.

The Houlton Sector of the Border Patrol, which monitors border activity between the ports of entry, also reported increased surveillance and security.

Waterways
All Maine waterways are open, according to petty officer Clifton Yopp of the U.S. Coast Guard, Group Portland. The Coast Guard has increased its harbor patrol efforts, especially at the international marine terminal in Portland, which passenger ferries and cruise ships, among other vessels, pass through.

The Coast Guard is regularly searching vessels and their contents, Yopp said.
The U.S. Coast Guard continues to operate a security zone in the Kennebec River around the Bath Iron Works, which makes it criminal for any boat to enter within 400 feet of the shoreline of the boatyard. This policy was put into effect following the USS Cole bombing in Yemen last year.