>From ATW Online, 30 April, 2002 ++++++++++ Oberstar does not support Mineta screening plan Dateline: Tuesday April 30, 2002 The office of Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) flatly rejected two airline associations' suggestion that he supports the widespread deployment of explosive trace detection equipment to meet the Aviation and Transportation Security Act requirements for baggage screening. Both the Air Transport Assn. and Regional Airline Assn. had included a quote from Oberstar in a statement supporting Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta's recent announcement that he plans to use a mix of explosive detection systems and ETD units at the nation's airports rather than relying almost exclusively on the larger and more expensive EDS machines. There is widespread industry skepticism about the ability to manufacture and deploy sufficient numbers of EDS devices in time to meet the Dec. 31 federal deadline for baggage screening. After expressing their support for Mineta's decision in a joint release, ATA and RAA quoted a Dec. 18, 2001, statement by Oberstar: "The Act gives [DOT], in coordination with the airlines, flexibility to determine which methods, or combination of methods, should be used to screen checked baggage in any given situation; the authorized methods include explosive detection systems, passenger bag match, manual inspections, bomb-sniffing dogs, trace detection (which 'sniffs' for chemicals) and other effective technologies." However, Oberstar spokesman Jim Berard said that Oberstar was referring to acceptable interim steps until EDS units could be deployed. Berard said Oberstar does not agree with Mineta's move unless DOT can certify that trace detection is as effective as EDS. "Trace detection cannot be deployed until it has been certified as being able to detect explosives as effectively as EDS," Oberstar said in a statement. "Testing is underway, but it is presumptive of the outcome to say that trace detection can be deployed on an equal footing with EDS." The quote included in the ATA and RAA statement was "given in a totally different context" and constituted "an inappropriate use of Congressman Oberstar's statement," the spokesperson said. ATA did not return a call seeking comment.