Subject: More info about Military Cargo & Ship
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 12:34:28 -0700 (PDT)


Below is a bit more information about the military convoys & cargo ship that are in Olympia now (the convoys at least).

TJ Johnson wrote: 

From: TJ Johnson 
Subject: FW: Military Cargo & Ship headed to Olympia Port
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 20:39:53 -0700

I received the message below earlier today from the City of Olympia's Communications Director. It highlights what appears to be the increasing role being played by our community in the Bush administration's dangerous foreign policy.

Please share this message widely.

TJ Johnson

Some of you may already be aware of this; just wanted to make sure everyone had the word.

       Patti Grant from the Port of Olympia called to alert us that military
       convoys will be transporting cargo through Olympia to Port property over the
       next two days. We have been notified that about 18 U.S. Army convoys of 25
       - 50 vehicles each (trucks and trailers) will be transporting the cargo;
       some cargo may also be arriving by rail. 

       Then, sometime in the next two weeks, a military cargo vessel will arrive at
       the Port for loading and transport of the cargo. Date not yet available.

       According to Larry Dibble, the Fire Department has been told that the
       military will NOT be transporting any explosives or munitions except for
       what the guards will possess. If by chance they were shipping explosives
       and munitions, the Uniform Fire Code, Article 77, titled "Explosive
       Materials" exempts the Armed Forces of the United States, Coast Guard, or
       National Guard from falling under our authority in regulating such
       transportation and shipping. 

       OPD and Public Works have also been notified by the Port. The OPD traffic
       unit will be expediting traffic flow for the convoys from about 9-5 tomorrow
       to minimize disruption (along Plum to Marine Drive).


       Following is a Breaking News item posted on The Olympia website this
       afternoon:
       Port of Olympia to ship military vehicles

       The U.S. Army will begin operations Thursday at the Port of Olympia in
       preparation for loading a vessel bound for southwest Asia. 
       The deployment is related to moving equipment to the war in Iraq, said Judi
       Warren, a public information officer with the 833rd U.S. Army Transportation
       Battalion in Seattle. Some of the equipment will come from Fort Lewis. 
       She said as many as 400 Army vehicles and pieces of equipment are expected
       to arrive at the port in connection with loading a ship. Warren estimated
       the operation could take up to two weeks to complete. 
       Warren said the Army has not used the Port of Olympia for such a deployment
       since the mid 1980s. Such shipments normally go through the Port of Tacoma. 
       The Army will manage security of the operation and use local longshore
       employees. Besides over-the-road vehicles, the operation also could include
       the use of trains shipping equipment from Fort Irwin in California, Warren
       said.