Although we have to be vigilant about terrorism, I sometimes wonder if
government and certain businesses are using the fear of terrorism as
an excuse to hide from the public. The following article about a
kayaker who "was observed videotaping a Northwestern U.S. company's
refinery" may mean the public will be barred from going anywhere near
oil refineries.

I personally think it's a huge leap to think that a kayaker
videotaping an oil refinery is a possible Al-Qaida terrorist (more
likely it'll come from domestic terrorists such as ELF, but you can't
get headlines talking about domestic terrorism). In the Pacific
Northwest, kayakers are often the stewards of the local waterways who
conduct "surveillance," i.e., observe, photograph and videotape oil
tankers and oil refineries to ensure that they aren't spilling oil and
other waste into the water. I now expect there will be new "security
restrictions" to keep kayakers and others away from surveillance of
oil refineries so that oil companies can conduct their business
outside of the eyes of the public. (Hey, isn't GW Bush an oil man?)

So be forewarned. . . if you are seen photographing or videotaping
an oil refinery, an oil tanker, a bald eagle near an oil refinery, an
oil spill, etc., you too could be considered a potential Al-Qaida
terrorist.
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SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Thursday, July 1, 2004 · Last updated 2:58 p.m. PT

Govt: May have been terrorist interest in state refinery
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Department of Homeland Security says one of the
state's five oil refineries may have come under surveillance by
terrorists, a newspaper reported Thursday.

While the suspicious activity could be part of preparation for an
attack, the agency said there was no specific information suggesting
energy facilities were being targeted.

Word on the possible surveillance was in a department bulletin sent to
industry, state and local law enforcement officials, The News Tribune
of Tacoma reported.

A person in a kayak "was observed videotaping a Northwestern U.S.
company's refinery," it said. The company's security staff also
reported a "suspicious encounter" with a diver last year in the same
general area.

The bulletin noted that a key ring containing about 50 keys was stolen
from a field truck owned by a company with a Northwest refinery. The
keys represent "potential access" to the company's U.S. facilities,
the agency said, noting that locks at the local operation were being
changed.

"Suspicious incident reports concerning possible surveillance of oil
and gas refineries and infrastructure continue to emerge from
throughout the homeland and may, in some cases, be indicative of
terrorist pre-operational activities," the department said.

Al-Qaida considers such facilities "attractive options because of
their potentially significant economic, public health and safety, and
psychological impacts," it said.

The state has received no information about specific threats to
refineries, said Joe Huden, a special assistant to Maj. Gen. Timothy
Lowenberg, Gov. Gary Locke's homeland security adviser.

"This is all pretty standard stuff," Huden said.

A spokesman at BP's Cherry Point refinery, the state's largest, said
the company has reported no suspicious activity in the past three to
six months.

The state's other refineries are Shell and Tesoro operations in
Anacortes, a ConocoPhillips refinery in Ferndale and a U.S. Oil
refinery in Tacoma.

The Homeland Security bulletin noted there have been a series of
terrorist attacks on energy-related targets overseas, particularly in
the Persian Gulf.

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Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.tribnet.com