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Water, Wastewater Facilities Go To High Terror Alert

WASHINGTON — The federal government on Friday raised the terrorist threat index for only the second time, warning that newly acquired intelligence indicates a "high risk" of attacks by the al Qaeda terrorist network against US targets at home and abroad.

The Washington Post reported that US intelligence and health officials said in public announcements and private briefings that they were particularly concerned about chemical, biological or radiological weapons.
"There are no specific threats to water at this time," Rob Renner, deputy executive director of the American Water Works Association, said this morning.

"As an association, we're taking this very seriously," he noted, saying facilities should be taking the time to be sure they have plans and contacts set up with their local law enforcement agencies and health agencies so they are prepared for any emergency.

"We're encouraging utilities to practice even great diligence," including reminding staff and contractors about the level-orange alert, and possibly increasing law enforcement surveillance of facilities. The US Bureau of Reclamation said in a news release that increased security measures were implemented at its dams, reservoirs, power plants, offices and other facilities.

"The safety of the public and the security of our facilities remain our paramount concern," said Reclamation Commissioner John Keys. "We may implement additional security measures as we receive further guidance."

According to he Post, Attorney General John D. Ashcroft and other officials said al Qaeda operatives may seek to time attacks to coincide with the hajj, the annual five-day pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that began yesterday.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urged citizens to "to prepare for an emergency" by readying contact lists, talking with their families and reviewing information on other precautions, the newspaper said.

The heightened alert status, from yellow to orange on the five-tiered, color-coded scale, is the result of days of contentious debate within US counterterrorism circles over what to do about a surge in intelligence information indicating the possibility of attack, the Post reported.

According to the newspaper, analysts in the White House and Pentagon pushed for a general public warning, but some FBI and CIA officials had argued that the information was too vague and could unnecessarily alarm the public.

Ultimately, President Bush made the decision, raising the 11-month-old threat index to its second-highest level, the newspaper said. The warning comes amid international rancor over a possible US invasion of Iraq and follows a wave of high-profile terrorism arrests throughout Europe in recent weeks, said the Post.
Since it was unveiled last March, the terror threat warning system has generally been held at yellow, which signifies an elevated risk of attack, the newspaper reported.

The last time the level was raised was on the eve of the anniversary of the 11 September 2001, attacks. The only level above orange is red, which indicates an imminent or ongoing attack.