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Feds Might Fine Airport Over Security: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is Facing $100,000 in Proposed Penalties By the Transportation Security Administration for Security Violations

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 06:00 CDT

By Erika Bolstad and Steve Harrison, The Miami Herald

Jun. 28--Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport may be fined $100,000 by the federal government for failing to correct numerous security lapses that were first noticed by the Transportation Security Administration during a November 2005 audit.

Neither the TSA nor the airport would discuss the nature of the 10 violations. But Broward County commissioners were upset Tuesday with airport director Tom Jargiello for not updating them on the problems.

"With all due respect to the airport director, I believe it's unacceptable," Commissioner Ilene Lieberman said. "I sincerely hope that in the future, we'll be better apprised of these kind of situations."

'NOT UNCOMMON'

TSA spokesman Chris White said it's "not uncommon" for airports to have security violations.

"Typically, they are corrected in a quick manner," White said. "To get to this point is more rare."

Miami International Airport has no outstanding fines, White said.

The TSA is responsible for screening luggage and passengers, and the airport is responsible for securing the rest of the airfield, controlling access to secure areas through fencing and ID cards.

Jargiello said the airport is "working together with the TSA" to continue to improve security at the airport, but would not elaborate on any lapses or their remedies.

"Unequivocally, the security program at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is one of the best in the country," Jargiello said.

The airport can contest the fines, and the commission on Tuesday agreed to give Jargiello and the county attorney the ability to negotiate with the TSA and take administrative and legal action to "protect the county's interest." That includes spending as much as $25,000 on outside attorneys.

Jargiello said the airport should have kept commissioners in the loop.

"I agree with the commission," he said. "They have the absolute right to know information. We'll continue to do better next time. We will continue to improve."

DIFFERENT APPROACH

Jargiello's low-key approach is in marked contrast to the county's former aviation director, Bill Sherry, who often argued publicly with the county commissioners as they grappled with plans to build a bigger south runway. The tension made it almost impossible for him to do his job. Sherry quit in late 2002 and was replaced by Jargiello.

But in recent months, some commissioners have criticized Jargiello and his boss, the interim county administrator, Bertha Henry, for letting key top-level vacancies in the Aviation Department go unfilled.

Commissioners have complained that it has slowed decisions and put too much responsibility on Jargiello alone.

Also, the slow pace of the runway expansion review has made some planning and construction projects lag, especially those that depend on how the new runway would be configured.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Miami Herald

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