TSA to start employee security screenings at Southwest Oregon Airport

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By Britt Carlson

Story Published: Feb 13, 2008 at 5:44 PM PST

NORTH BEND- The Southwest Oregon Regional Airport is selected to participate in a TSA pilot program, requiring 100% of the airline employees to go through security screening.

Starting in April, it won't be only passengers who are screened at the security check-point at the airport in North Bend.

Executive Director of Southwest Oregon Regional Airport Gary Lettellier says every employee that steps on the air field will have to first go through the new airport security screenings.

"There's some indications that Al-Queda and others may be trying to infiltrate the employee groups and so the TSA is moving to stem that, to check it."

Southwest Oregon Regional is one of only two airports on the west coast selected for this pilot program, including the Eugene airport.

Lettelier believes they were selected because they're in Peter DeFazio's district, who sits on the transportation committee.

"It is a bit of a status symbol, there's just seven airports nationwide and we're one of them, we're glad to do it, but it will be a bit of an inconvenience for our employees, but we think the reasoning is sound."

TSA will report to congress by September on the cost effectiveness of the program, and if the pilot is successful, employee screening may be required in all US airports.

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