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Sequim lab to start coast security program August 24th, 2004 - 5:33am (Sequim) -- A new coastal security program based in Sequim will bring some new jobs to the Olympic Peninsula. The research will be based at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Sequim Marine Research Operations facility. A 4-point-2 million dollar Congressional appropriation will fund the project. It's designed to develop advanced sensors capable of providing early warning of biological, chemical or nuclear material releases in marine and coastal environments. The appropriation was secured with the help of Washington Congressman Norm Dicks. The money is allocated to the Office of Naval Intelligence. Battelle's Greg Kohler says it's part of a fast-growing coastal security research effort at the Sequim lab that is expected to bring increased federal funds and employment opportunities to the north Olympic Peninsula over the next few years. The 4-point-2 million dollars is for fiscal year 2005 and comes on top of a 1-point-7 million dollar Congressional earmark secured this summer. The newly-funded research program will involve laboratory work and field testing. Kohler says the program will draw on the scientific and technical experience and expertise the Sequim laboratory has developed for marine environmental issues over the last 40 years. The program’s initial research and development efforts will focus on improving the ability to rapidly acquire, analyze and interpret evidence from weapons of mass destruction in marine and coastal environments. This network would serve as an early warning system for coastal security.
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