TSA 4 months late in formulating cargo security proposals

Published 8 December 2005

Four months after deadline there is still no federal regulation for keeping bombs off passenger planes, air cargo still at risk

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is still sitting on an overdue federal regulation designed to keep bombs out of air cargo. The TSA is four months late in releasing a final regulation to tighten air cargo security. The 2004 intelligence overhaul law sets a deadline of August 2005. TSA spokesman Darrin Kayser said he could not predict when the regulation may be released. Critics say an interim rule, which merely codifies existing practices, is inadequate. The TSA needs to inspect 100 percent of air cargo using detection technology, they say, to ensure that terrorists do not smuggle bombs into the bellies of passenger planes.

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