Port Authority Faults Overwhelming Bureaucracy for Blueprint Blunder

Internal investigators at the Port Authority are faulting the overwhelming bureaucracy surrounding the construction of the Freedom Tower for the loss of confidential blueprints that could have left the new building vulnerable to those determined to strike the WTC again. Per the New York Post, "Experts say there was enough detail in the blueprints to lead to a devastating terrorist attack."

Homeless man Mike Fleming found the 150 page document labeled "Secure Document -- Confidential" while sifting through a trash container on the corner of Sullivan St. and West Houston St., and then turned it over to the Post. The Port Authority actually has a 60 page guide on the proper control and disposal of confidential documents that doesn't include instructions to toss them in a trash can on the street where anyone can pick them up. And according to Newsday, one of the rules is that secure documents are not even supposed to be taken out in public, let alone left there.

Violations of security protocol could lead to someone at the Port Authority being fired or a construction company to lose its contract at the site. In an editorial piece today, the Post excoriates the Port Authority for a blunder that resulted in the most detailed information about the building released to the public to date being discovered by a homeless recovering drug addict. Fleming himself noted, "This could have ended up on eBay."

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By Dave Hogarty in News on April 19, 2008 3:45 PM

Comments [rss]

Editrixie

I'm sure they weren't really blueprints as shown in the illustration - they're hardly used anymore. Furthermore, the ammonia in blueprint solution means that blueprints must be disposed of in an ecologically sound way - it's really like toxic waste. What the guy found in the trash were more likely bluelines or blacklines.

Novanglus

Does ANYONE understand that blueprints and layouts of absolutely ANY building is available for FREE at county clerk's office? What does this matter? There's no lapse in security here.

Militant Islam is as grave a threat to America as a baby rabbit is a threat to an elephant.

Is that a joke?

Cord

"Militant Islam is as grave a threat to America as a baby rabbit is a threat to an elephant."

I want to say that a baby rabbit afflicted with rabies is as dangerous to elephant as militant muslim afflicted with extremism. Rudy Giuliani would have you believe that all militant muslims are islamo-fascist (Heads up to Rude-EE Giu for that one).

http://satiricalmilk.blogspot.com/

west side Michael

Sounds like Homeland security is now

Hobo-land security.Thanks guy.

Gothamist is full of funny news today.

Snoopy

Well I guess they have to scrap those plans and go back to the drawing board. No problem. It will only take another seven years to come up with plan "B".