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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced a pilot program to screen airport employees at Boston Logan International Airport. The 30-day pilot will determine the feasibility of adopting 100% employee screening and will be conducted in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The program will evaluate the practicability of implementing various procedures, equipment and resources necessary to implement such an extensive program at Boston Logan.

"Massport's primary responsibility is to protect the safety and security of our critical infrastructure and all who use it, and this pilot program is one more component to a multi-layered approach to security at Boston Logan," said Massport's Director of Aviation Edward C. Freni. "We expect that most airport employees will continue to be screened through the regular passenger screening checkpoint but for those employees not bound for the terminal area, but headed for other secure areas, there will be special employee checkpoints at which the TSA will conduct employee security screening."

Boston Logan's program to screen employees complements TSA's efforts to bolster employee screening through a risk-based approach that includes behavioral recognition, employee training, targeted physical inspection and biometric control.

"It is only by challenging ourselves and working closely with our partners in state and federal law enforcement that we can strengthen and improve our overall security program," said Massport's Director of Corporate Security Dennis Treece. "Employee screening is an important component of an airports security plan and we are hopeful that the findings of this pilot program will help inform policy makers and lead to a national plan."

Boston Logan serves as the gateway to the six-state New England region with a population of over 14 million and offers nonstop service to 79 domestic and 37 international destinations. Boston Logan also has more low fare flights than any airport in New England and in 2006 handled nearly 28 million passengers.

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