Officials Beef Up Security at Dams

Although no specific threat has been made, security at federal dams across the West is being strengthened to deal with potential terrorist attacks, the head of the agency that manages federal dams says. Eluid Martinez, chief of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said at a news conference that his agency plans to spend an additional $15 million for security at the dams during the next three years. Martinez also said the bureau, which manages 475 dams and locks across the West, plans to create a new job of security director for the dam system. Martinez declined to give any detailed explanation of what prompted the renewed focus on security at the dams.