Security deadline looms

Deirdre Newman

The county is wasting no time in getting the airport ready to

install baggage-screening devices to detect bombs by year’s end,

averting a nightmare scenario where every bag would have to be

checked by hand.

On Tuesday morning, the Orange County Board of Supervisors

unanimously awarded an “emergency” contract to a company to set up

the infrastructure to handle the devices. On Tuesday afternoon, the

work started, Airport Director Alan Murphy said.

The vote was in response to a federal requirement that all

airports nationwide either install the equipment by the end of the

year or check the luggage manually.

“If we didn’t do this, it’s mandated, so every bag that is checked

in to be transported by air flight would have to be opened,”

Supervisor Jim Silva said. “Could you imagine if we had 17,000 bags

opened up and checked by hand?”

The board approved the contract without taking any other bids. The

airport will shell out about $17 million to Hensel Phelps

Construction for the job.

The federal government handed down the mandate in May, Silva said,

lamenting the fact that there was not enough time for the county to

put the job out to bid.

“I like to see the taxpayer get the best break, and usually you

can do that through the open-bidding process,” Silva said.

To pay for the equipment, the county will transfer money from the

general fund to airport operations.

Silva said he recently traveled to Washington with Murphy to try

to ensure that the money will be paid back to the county. But despite

their efforts, Silva said he has not received a guarantee that John

Wayne Airport will be reimbursed.

Once the infrastructure has been completed in early December, the

Transportation Security Administration will provide the equipment,

Murphy said. The county selected an automated system, which will

blend with the current baggage-checking equipment, Murphy noted.

“This approach ensures that we meet the mandate, and this way has

the least impact on travelers,” Murphy said.

The airport has also enhanced its bomb-detecting abilities with

the arrival of two Explosives Detection Canine teams. The dogs -- Rex

and Ali -- were officially sworn in Tuesday afternoon and, after

getting acclimated to the airport environment, will officially start

in about two months.

Unlike immobile equipment, the dogs -- and their human handlers --

can roam around the airport to ferret out explosives on airplanes and

in the parking lot, as well as in the terminal.

The canine teams became a priority after Sept. 11, Murphy said. An

annual grant from the Transportation Security Administration covers a

portion of the costs. A third team is on the way and should arrive by

year’s end.

While Rex and Ali looked lethargic Tuesday from working late the

night before, Rex’s partner, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin

Nadeau, said his dog -- a Belgian Malinois -- has the perfect

temperament to sniff out bombs.

“He’s very affectionate, loving and docile, but when he goes to

work, he’s on a mission,” Nadeau said.

Some passengers said the addition of Rex and Ali to the airport’s

security squad was an added layer of protection.

“It seems like a good idea,” said Mark Rohrbough from Dallas.

“It’s a way to proactively find out if there’s a problem and sends

the message, ‘we’re watching.’ ”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.