JOC

The Transportation Worker Identification Card, a biometric identification credential is broken. The Department of Defense announced Dec. 10 that the program mandated 10 years ago and managed by the Department of Homeland Security does not meet Department of Defense security standards. Serious questions need to be asked about why this multimillion-dollar program has failed.

The U.S. Department of the Army issued a Federal Register notice that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential can no longer be used to authenticate users for access to certain Department of Defense systems, effective Jan. 29, 2013.

The U.S. Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command has required all commercial accounts accessing transportation systems and applications to use either a commercial public-key interface or a TWIC.

However, the DOD PKI office "has not established a trust relationship" with Homeland Security or the Transportation Security Administration, and TWIC therefore does not meet DOD security standards.

Before Jan. 29, 2013, TWIC holders will need to acquire an External Certificate Authority certificate so they may continue to access SDDC transportation applications and the U.S. Transportation Command's Defense Personal Property System.

A new Los Angeles ordinance amending the city’s building code will streamline the permitting process for future Port of Los Angeles construction projects, as part of its five-year, $1.2 billion capital improvement plan to provide superior cargo terminals, rail and warehouse infrastructure to retain global business.

“This collaboration between the Harbor Department and the Department of Building and Safety makes the permit process for our critical maritime projects more efficient while continuing our strict safety standards,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

“As a city, we cannot ignore the impending threat to our local economy that comes with the expansion of the Panama Canal,” Los Angeles City Councilman Ed P. Reyes said.