JOC 6/7/06

DHS allots $168 million for port security

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Homeland Security announced some $168 million will be available for port security out of $400 million in fiscal 2006 infrastructure protection grants.

Port security grants will be awarded to "create sustainable, risk-based efforts for the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism," according to DHS.

The top 100 "most critical" U.S. ports representing 95 percent of foreign waterborne commerce will be eligible to apply.

The department began taking applications Thursday, and will continue to take applications for 30 days. Grants will be awarded in September.

In addition to ports, Homeland Security has partitioned the grant money in sectors for the chemical industry, mass transit, trucking, intercity bus and passenger rail, and "buffer zone" security for local and state governments to protect areas around such places as chemical plants, electric power plants and sports stadiums.