Agencies across country step up security efforts

Federal agencies that do everything from handling the mail to operating huge dams are beefing up security in the wake of Tuesday's tragedies in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Employees at 40,000 post offices and retail outlets have been instructed to give increased scrutiny to any suspicious packages and customers. Additionally, the Postal Inspection Service has added security at several of the agency's large mail processing plants. The inspection service employs nearly 2,000 inspectors who act much like Secret Service agents, with the legal authority to inspect packages. The service also has 1,400 uniformed police.

The inspection service is allowed to x-ray all first class mail, but Postal Inspector Lori Groen said the agency is being prudent in its security operations.

"Clearly, we can't x-ray everything," she said. "That would delay the mail too much. So we look for anything suspicious-bulging packages, anything that may be leaking." The service does not need search warrants to examine highly suspicious packages.

After the bombing of TWA flight 800 in 1996, the Postal Service implemented a weight limit for dropping off packages in mailboxes. Any package weighing more than 16 ounces requires customers to visit a post office and mail the package with the assistance of a postal clerk.

The Bureau of Reclamation also has increased security to its highest level, closing all visitor centers and adding security personnel at its facilities. All dams, power plants and offices are in operation, but nonessential services have been curtailed.

"The word [to move into high alert] was swift," said agency spokesman John Redding, adding that he is not sure how long the increased security measures will remain in place.

The Coast Guard, too, has implemented red alert measures. All vessels entering U.S. ports are being subject to increased scrutiny-even those far away from where the terrorist attacks occurred. The port in Valdez, Alaska has been closed to commercial vessels. The Coast Guard will also board and search ships entering the ports at San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego before they are allowed to dock.